Entrepreneurship has been a way for many Americans to avoid unemployment throughout the pandemic. So, when Michelle Youngblood’s corporate office shut down with a round of layoffs, she realized this was the push she needed to launch her own brand, Brooklynn & Blake.
A year into the pandemic, many small businesses in Illinois continue to struggle to keep their doors open. While government funding programs have provided a crucial lifeline for many businesses, one-off funding opportunities are not going to be enough to support the long-term recovery of our small business economy. The proposed Illinois Earned Income Credit (EIC) expansion would help address this by closing the gaps in federal funding relief programs and putting more money into the pockets of low-income and working-class Illinoisans.
Small Business Majority wrote to the Georgia Senate Finance Committee to request that language establishing a state earned income tax credit (EITC) be added to HB 593, the Tax Relief Act of 2021. This would put money directly in the pockets of small business owners and stimulate local economies.
Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the Georgia Senate Finance Committee to ask them to remove legislation implementing a CAPCO tax credit program from HB 587, which would provide $150 million worth of tax credits to “certified capital companies.” The CAPCO model is fundamentally flawed and this money would be much better spent directly supporting Georgia's small businesses.
Johana Hernandez has been surrounded by fashion her whole life. Growing up, her parents worked in sewing factories in Los Angeles, which enabled Johana to learn all about garment design and the production of high-end clothing firsthand. In the beginning, making her own clothes was simply a hobby that Johana and her mother enjoyed doing together in their spare time, but soon it became a passion and her path to entrepreneurship.
Starting a small business may seem daunting for most people, but for those who take the risk like Tierra Henderson, it’s a matter of seeking mentorship and applying yourself.
Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the U.S. House Committee on Small Business urging for members to immediately pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021, which would extend the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) application period to May 31, 2021 and allow the U.S. Small Business Administration to process loans until June 30, 2021. Congress must pass the PPP Extension Act of 2021 immediately so that small businesses can acquire adequate funding to keep their doors open during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Historically, small businesses have struggled to access health coverage due to the cost, representing a disproportionate number of the working uninsured prior to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). And when they have been able to afford it, small businesses often paid more than their larger counterparts. These barriers are now being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as small businesses are forced to lay off or furlough employees and make cuts to benefits in order to survive the ongoing economic crisis. A recent national survey of small business owners sheds light on these ongoing issues facing small businesses, as well as their views on policy solutions that could help them access and afford coverage into the future.
Small Business Majority wrote to the Illinois House Personnel & Pensions Committee in support of HB0117, which would expand Illinois Secure Choice so that employers with at least one employee may participate and auto-enroll their employees. This is an important step to supporting very small businesses and their employees who are unable to access traditional retirement programs, particularly those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Small Business Majority submitted a letter calling on the Small Business Administration (SBA) to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for all self-employed individuals and sole proprietors who previously received PPP loan funds based on their net profits. PPP loans were originally calculated using net profits, which resulted in very low amounts after accounting for business deductions.
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