Access to capital

Veteran food truck owner turns to quick financing to stay afloat during the pandemic

When federal funding programs don’t work for the small businesses they were designed to support, owners may be forced to seek out much riskier avenues to capital in order to keep their doors open. Unfortunately Chef Frisco Thumbtzen in South Carolina is one such example. 

After his military service left him with disabled veteran status, Chef Frisco turned to entrepreneurship. In the military, he worked as a limousine driver and when he was discharged, he was given his own vehicle so he could start up his own transportation business. 

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California business owner struggles to stay afloat after being targeted by predatory lenders

More than a year and a half into the pandemic, many small businesses are unsure if they will be able to recover after fighting to stay above water and accruing crippling debt. Small business owners of color, women and immigrants have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic as they’ve faced barriers to accessing federal relief programs and traditional lending. Small business owner Daysi Del Rosario Rivas Peralta is one example.

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Latino business owner expands his social enterprise to increase access to nutritional meals

Owning a small business can be challenging if you don’t have access to resources and tools to help you understand and manage the operational side of your business. For Javier Haro, this came at a high cost when his short debut as a restaurant owner came to a screeching halt after shutting down his business when the 2009 economic downturn hit the market.

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Small Business Majority provides testimony in support of IL CRA

On October 18, 2021, Midwest Region Director Geri Aglipay testified before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in support of the Illinois Community Reinvestment Act (IL CRA). This legislation will combat ageism in lending and uplift entrepreneurs of color and women entrepreneurs. 

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Protect small business borrowers by ensuring transparent and fair lending practices

Currently the federal Truth in Lending Act (TILA) requires that consumer creditors disclose critical financing information, including annual percentage rate (APR), in a clear and comparable format. However, Congress has yet to extend these disclosure requirements to small business loans and other credit products, which means small businesses are vulnerable to irresponsible lenders. As small businesses recover from the pandemic, it should go without saying that transparent lending shouldn’t be up for debate.

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Hot sauce creator decentralizes her businesses to survive the pandemic

Deb Ramirez Rock’s Sonoma, Calif.-sourced hot sauce has been her passion project for more than seven years, but after a series of unpredictable events—starting with a wildfire in 2019 that destroyed her crops—it has been an uphill battle to make her organic, locally made hot sauce. 

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DC camera company finds funding to keep the lights on during the pandemic

Freelance cameraman, cinematographer and Emmy award winner Erich Roland first learned his craft by his father’s side. For many years, he worked freelance until July of 2004, when he decided to expand his passion into a small business. He used his own personal inventory, which includes premier motion picture and photography equipment, to rent audio and visual equipment to customers, and DC-Camera was born. 

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Small Business Majority urges Congress to advance Dilawar Syed's nomination as Deputy Administrator of the SBA

Today, Small Business Majority shared a letter with members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship to share concerns about recent actions preventing the nomination of Dilawar Syed to Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The letter outlines Mr. Syed's qualifications for the role and urges the Committee to advance his nomination swiftly. 

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Latino business owner on path to rebound, but a Catch-22 is holding him back

Martin Garcia opened Gramercy Gift Gallery in 2018, in the bustling city of San Antonio, T.X., with the vision to fill a gap in his community. As a minority-owned business, Gramercy Gift Gallery brings unique gifts, art, decor and novelties to a community that continues to expand, grow and attract retail chains. And while the growth is rapid in the area, small businesses and independent shops are still scarce. 

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Small Business Majority Supports Small Business Title in Budget Reconciliation Package

President and CEO of Small Business Majority, John Arensmeyer, submitted a letter of support for the provisions in the Small Business title of the Budget Reconciliation package. The provisions in the Small Business Committee title will make $25 billion worth of critical investments for small businesses on their road to recovery. Mr. Arensmeyer called on Congress to immediately pass these measures as part of the package.

 

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