We wish we didn’t have to address this, but the Business Enterprises Program faces serious threats—not from the public, but from large corporations that see government buildings as untapped revenue and are investing in lobbyists and legislation to gain access. These companies frame the issue as “competition” and “free markets,” yet there is nothing free-market about Wall Street-backed corporations attempting to take locations currently operated by 90 blind Tennesseans—that’s not competition, it’s consolidation. The priority granted to blind vendors costs taxpayers nothing; it simply ensures that qualified blind entrepreneurs receive the first opportunity to operate vending facilities in public buildings. If that priority is removed, the locations won’t disappear—they will go to national corporations, revenue will leave Tennessee, and blind vendors risk returning to nearly 70% unemployment. We are not asking for special treatment, only the continued opportunity that has existed since 1943 to prove ourselves and build sustainable businesses. The Blind Vendors of Tennessee welcome the opportunity to meet with members of the Tennessee General Assembly to provide accurate information about the program’s history, structure, and impact across the state. We respectfully invite lawmakers to request a meeting or download our fact sheet to better understand why protecting this program matters to blind Tennesseans and the communities they serve.