National ACE and FCCPNW Convene Small Business Leaders to Advance Trade, Growth, and Economic Opportunity
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2026
PRESS CONTACT
Phuong Nguyen
pnguyen@nationalace.org
National ACE and FCCPNW Convene Small Business Leaders to Advance Trade, Growth, and Economic Opportunity
[June 18, 2026, Seattle, Washington] – The National Asian Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE), in collaboration with the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest (FCCPNW), recently hosted a Small Business Roundtable at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. The event brought together entrepreneurs, policymakers, and community advocates to explore strategies for accelerating business growth, expanding trade opportunities, and unlocking new pathways for success across Seattle’s small business community.
Seattle’s marketplace relies heavily on the innovation and economic energy of its small business sector. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) entrepreneurs are a vital part of this ecosystem, making up roughly 13.3% of the Seattle metro population and driving progress in sectors from technology and healthcare to logistics and trade. The roundtable emphasized the critical need to expand resource access, build stronger collaborative networks, and ensure local business owners are fully equipped to compete on a global scale.
“Seattle is one of the country’s most dynamic cities, where small businesses drive trade, innovation, and job creation,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “We are grateful to Amazon for hosting this roundtable at its Seattle headquarters, in the Puget Sound region where Amazon first started and continues to invest in the local economy and community. With small businesses making up 95% of Seattle’s local enterprises and creating nearly 200,000 jobs, this dialogue helps connect entrepreneurs, policymakers, and partners to address real-world challenges and support sustainable growth.”
“We are proud to collaborate with National ACE to bring national resources, business advocacy, and meaningful leadership connections to Seattle’s small business community,” said May Pineda-Dominguez, President of FCCPNW. “Filipino and AAPI business owners have long contributed to Seattle’s economic landscape, and partnerships like this help ensure they remain connected to the resources and relationships that support their continued success.”
“We want to see our small businesses harness the incredible power of AI to drive breakthroughs in science, medicine, and technology,” said U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). “As we integrate these tools, I am committed to working alongside partners like National ACE and the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest (FCCPNW) to ensure that innovation empowers our workforce and strengthens our local economy while keeping the human element that makes our communities unique and resilient.”
The event featured participation from government and economic leaders, including U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07); District Director Melanie Norton, U.S. Small Business Administration - Seattle District Office; State Representative Julio Cortes (District 38); Deputy Mayor Brian Surratt, City of Seattle; Deputy Mayor Michael Fong, City of Everett; Commissioner (Position 2) Sam Cho, Port of Seattle; Councilmember Claire Sumadiwirya, City of Bellevue; Councilmember (Position 2) Will Chen, City of Edmonds; Councilmember Julie Hsieh, City of Mercer Island; Steve Hartell, Vice President of Public Policy at Amazon; and Mario Salazar, Principal of Public Policy at Amazon & National ACE board member.
Key themes raised by small business owners during the roundtable included increasing access to capital, securing local and state government contract opportunities, and navigating best practices for AI.
“It was so powerful to see entrepreneurs from our communities gathered here today to share our stories and mutually support each other,” said Julie Hsieh, Owner of Yuan Ru Art Studio, “As both the Councilmember of Mercer Island and a small business owner, I’m taking those powerful messages with me and bringing them together with my personal experiences in Art and Medicine.”
“The roundtable opened my eyes to the many programs available to small business owners that we never knew existed,” said Frances Raab, CEO of Pawsitively Yours. “We were able to connect with new resources and learn how to navigate those processes to support our business.”
This event is part of National ACE’s ongoing Small Business Roundtable series, which brings together local and national leaders to elevate the voices of entrepreneurs and advance policies that foster economic opportunity.
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About National ACE: National ACE’s mission is to serve as a strong advocate of AAPI and all small business interests and positive change on issues that enhance and advance the goals and aspirations of business owners, entrepreneurs, and corporate leaders. National ACE supports policies and programs that strengthen small businesses, expand economic opportunity, and foster the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives. Learn more at www.nationalace.org.
About FCCPNW: The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest supports Filipino and diverse small business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals through business connections, advocacy, education, and community partnerships. FCCPNW is committed to creating opportunities for business growth, leadership development, and economic empowerment while strengthening relationships across the Pacific Northwest business community. Learn more at www.fccpnw.org.