COVID-19

On April 6, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to congressional leaders opposing pay-fors for the Bipartisan COVID Supplemental Appropriations Act. The Act rescinds dollars from key programs, including $900 million from the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance and nearly $2 billion from the State Small Business Credit Initiative. Rescinding these dollars undercuts the trajectory of the small buisness ecosystem during a time when small business owners are still struggling to keep their doors open. 

Small Business Majority wrote to Assemblymember Buffy Wicks in support of AB 1993, legislation that would enact a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all businesses in California and their employees and independent contractors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. AB 1993 would remove the onus from entrepreneurs of enforcing their own public health protocols in the workplace, thus allowing them to focus on getting back to work at full capacity.

Last year, the American Rescue Plan provided billions of dollars to state governments to support their communities. After a year, these governments still have an opportunity to support their local small business ecosystem. We offer updated recommendations for strategic investments that can have a transformative impact on the long-term sustainability of a small business ecosystem. 

On February 24, Small Business Majority's Colorado Director Lindsey Vigoda submitted comments concerning the methodology for calculating premium rate reductions for the Colorado Options' small group market standardardized health benefit plan. We encourage the Colorado Division of Insurance to revise and establish fair rules to better serve the needs of small businesses.

On February 16, LaJuanna Russell, founder and president of Business Management Associates, Inc. (BMA) and the Chair of the Board of Directors and a member of the Small Business Council for Small Business Majority, testified before the U.S. House Committee on the Budget on a proposal to eliminate the U.S. debt limit, which would help mitigate financial risks and uncertainty for businesses of all sizes. 

On December 30, Small Business Majority alongside the American Independent Business Alliance and network member Mary Sue Milliken filed an amicus brief urging the court to uphold the administration’s COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for businesses with 100 or more employees. The brief outlines how workplace-related safety policies will impact small businesses, as well as research demonstrating the strong support for the rule from the business community.

Today, Small Business Majority, American Booksellers Association, American Independent Business Alliance, American Sustainable Business Network, Common Future, and Main Street Alliance sent a letter to Congressional leaders underscoring the importance of passing the budget reconciliation package. America’s small businesses owners will benefit from the budget reconciliation package because it proposes bold long-term investments into the small business ecosystem.

Small Business Majority has released its comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Virginia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s critical that state lawmakers enact policies to support and empower these entrepreneurs by guaranteeing that they have access to capital to sustain their businesses, affordable and quality healthcare and the tools and benefits they need to grow now and in the future.