[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 16, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3011-S3012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                   RECOGNIZING BEST MEMORIES ACADEMY

 Mr. RUBIO. Madam President, as chairman of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
a small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit 
at the heart of our country. It is my privilege to recognize a woman-
owned small business that provides an enriching environment for 
children and serves a diverse community. This week, it is my pleasure 
to honor Best Memories Academy of Orlando, FL, as the Senate Small 
Business of the Week.
  For 20 years, Best Memories Academy has provided quality childcare 
for families in Orlando, FL. When her son was 2 years old, Lyana 
Vazquez, originally from Puerto Rico, began searching for a daycare 
program that would provide instruction in English and Spanish, but 
options were limited in the Orlando area. Undeterred, Lyana founded 
Best Memories Academy, to provide daycare and preschool programs with 
an emphasis on bilingual education.

[[Page S3012]]

  Over the years, Best Memories Academy has expanded its services. 
Lyana developed a bilingual curriculum and built strong relationships 
with Orlando's growing Latino community. She hired educators who spoke 
English and Spanish, incorporating the LENA Grow Program into their 
training. This research-based program enabled staff to begin 
conversational language teaching during critical stages of language 
learning. In 2019, Best Memories Academy began offering kindergarten 
and first grade instruction in addition to voluntary prekindergarten 
and after-school care. They partnered with the Early Learning Coalition 
of Orange County, ELCOC, to host educational workshops and community 
outreach events, becoming one of the premier daycare centers in the 
area.
  Like many other small businesses, Best Memories Academy experienced a 
sharp decline in revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic. As student 
enrollment dropped, Lyana modified her business operations to comply 
with the latest best practices from the Center for Disease Control, 
Florida Department of Health, and Florida Department of Children and 
Families. Together, she and her team assembled and dropped remote-
learning packets for students, taking special care with the materials 
for children whose families lacked internet access. Despite the 
challenges, Lyana was determined to stay open to care for the children 
of essential workers and keep her employees paid.
  When the U.S. Small Business Administration launched the Paycheck 
Protection Program PPP, Lyana immediately applied. The PPP provides 
forgivable loans to impacted small businesses and nonprofits who 
maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine days after 
she submitted an application, Best Memories Academy received funding 
for a PPP loan in early April. As a result, Lyana was able to keep her 
12 employees paid and keep her business open until Florida began to 
reopen and students returned. For Lyana and her team, the Paycheck 
Protection Program didn't just provide a salary--it provided hope.
  Best Memories Academy is a notable example of the role of 
relationship-driven small businesses in building community. I commend 
their work to provide high-quality bilingual education to children 
ranging from infancy to elementary school. Congratulations to Lyana and 
the entire team at Best Memories Academy. I look forward to watching 
your continued growth and success in the Orlando area.

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