[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 50 (Thursday, March 19, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING CANDY LOWE JONES

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 19, 2026

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History 
Month to honor a Tampa Bay native and visionary business leader, Candy 
Lowe Jones. As a champion of Black owned businesses and equitable 
economic opportunity, Candy Lowe has opened doors for connection, 
collaboration, and community empowerment across the Tampa Bay region.
  Born in Tampa, Florida, Lowe attended C. Leon King High School and 
Erwin Technical College. For more than 30 years, she served honorably 
as a licensed nurse, providing compassionate and dedicated care to 
patients. Yet entrepreneurship had always been her passion. After her 
career in healthcare, she turned that passion into reality by opening a 
local tea shop in 2003--a welcoming gathering place that quickly became 
a hub for conversation, connection, and community. As a businesswoman, 
Lowe built lasting relationships with her customers, earning their 
trust and loyalty.
  Business owners face many challenges, and Candy understands that 
engagement is essential to growth and long term success. In 2006, she 
founded the Black Business Bus Tour, an initiative designed to help 
Black owned businesses--from restaurants and boutiques to bookstores 
and beyond--grow and thrive. The tour was born from personal 
experience: Lowe knew the heartbreak of watching a business struggle, 
and she sought to honor the historical significance of Tampa's Central 
Avenue while uplifting a new generation of Black entrepreneurs.
  Since its inception, the bus tour has saved businesses at risk of 
closing and fostered meaningful dialogue and networking among small 
businesses throughout Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg. Business owners and 
residents exchange ideas, share business cards, and build relationships 
that strengthen the local economy. Elected officials, faith leaders, 
and community advocates have joined these tours, demonstrating the 
barriers Candy's work has broken down. The tour has reached hundreds of 
businesses and thousands of riders, generating revenue at every stop 
and inspiring plans for expansion across Florida.
  Lowe's work bridges economic opportunity with civic engagement. 
Alongside the bus tour, she launched ``Tea and Conversation,'' held 
every second and fourth Saturday, where community members and leaders 
gather to discuss the issues that matter most. Episodes are shared 
online, extending the conversation to an even wider audience. Candy is 
also a member of the NAACP, has served as a campaign manager and state 
representative for local elections in Tampa Bay and St. Petersburg, and 
founded the Independent Black Chamber of Commerce--ensuring that all 
business owners have equitable access to opportunity and community.
  Every dollar matters. Through her unwavering advocacy, Lowe has held 
corporations large and small accountable for their lack of meaningful 
diversity efforts. Her work has protected the pocketbooks of our 
neighbors and uplifted Black businesses and the broader Tampa Bay 
community. She understands that the greater good is built on the 
success of all.
  Candy is grounded by the support of her husband, Daryll ``DJ'' Jones, 
her grandparents, and her two children, Katisha Butler and Kendredge 
McKinnon Jar. She carries with her the understanding that while seasons 
change, humility and patience remain steadfast guides.
  Mr. Speaker, Candy Lowe is the embodiment of service and 
selflessness. She is a bridge builder whose work connects neighbors to 
businesses and transforms that connection into economic power. Her 
lifelong goal--to be remembered as a woman who uplifted African 
American businesses and ensured they were never overlooked--has not 
only been achieved, but far surpassed. Her legacy is one of 
empowerment, resilience, and community transformation, and Tampa Bay is 
stronger because of her leadership.

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