[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 171 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S6619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING ALVAREZ CONSTRUCTION

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, known for their resiliency and 
perseverance, Louisianians possess great strength and determination 
when facing adversity. This includes the folks who move to Louisiana 
and build a life there, such as Jairo Alvarez-Botero, a Colombian 
immigrant, who settled in Baton Rouge to build Alvarez Construction and 
has spent decades giving back to his community. For its many years of 
success and community service, I would like to recognize Alvarez 
Construction of Baton Rouge, LA, as Small Business of the Week.
  In 1963 Jairo Alvarez-Botero came to the United States to learn 
English and put himself through college. With the mindset that there is 
``no such thing as impossible,'' Jairo graduated from Albany Business 
College with honors and returned to his home country of Colombia to 
start a family. However, as the country's political and economic 
stability continued to waver, in the early 1980s, Jairo and his wife, 
Anita, decided to immigrate to the United States to provide a brighter 
future for their three children, Carlos, Ana, and Sebastian.
  Landing in Baton Rouge, the Alvarez family tried several business 
ventures before finding success in construction. In 1991, Jairo and his 
eldest son, Carlos, launched Alvarez Construction. They built three 
homes that first year, then six more the following year. Starting with 
individual single-family residential homes, Alvarez Construction 
eventually expanded its operations to include real estate and 
residential development.
  After Hurricane Katrina, Jairo recognized the immediate need for 
increased construction in Baton Rouge and began developing an 
affordable subdivision for displaced first-time home buyers. In 2007, 
Alvarez Construction had several hundred houses under construction and 
200 full-time workers. In the years since, the family-owned and 
operated small business has continued to achieve success, developing 
the St. Jude Dream Home and entire multiuse communities across the 
greater Baton Rouge area.
  Jairo developed cancer in 2005 and spent years battling the disease. 
He passed away in 2013 as the patriarch of a successful construction 
and development business that was very involved in the Baton Rouge 
community. Appreciative of the opportunities the United States had 
afforded him, Jairo had made it a priority for his firm to participate 
in various volunteer programs that give back to the community, such as 
the St. Jude Dream Home Campaign and Wheels to Succeed, a foundation 
that provides adapted three-wheeled cycles for children with physical 
disabilities.
  Today each member of the Alvarez family continues to play a major 
role in the business's success. Anita and Ana are in charge of 
administration, including accounting, bookkeeping, and staffing. With a 
business administration degree from Louisiana State University, Carlos 
is a licensed broker and responsible for the production, building, and 
selling aspects of the firm. As an expert in landscape architecture, 
Sebastian manages the firm's land development and subdivision 
infrastructure.
  Congratulations to the Alvarez family and the Alvarez Construction 
Company for being recognized as Small Business of the Week. I look 
forward to your continued growth and success.

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