Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Georgia. The state’s 1.2 million small businesses comprise 99.6% of all businesses in the state, and they employ 1.7 million residents—nearly half of all Georgia employees.
Savannah-based Charlotte Garnes worked for 11 years as a licensed mental health and substance abuse therapist. When she was only two credits away from receiving her Ph.D. in 2013, her life completely changed. She was sentenced to five years in prison as a result of unethical billing practices performed by employees under her supervision.
Today, Georgia Director, Rachel Shanklin, submitted a letter to Georgia's House Judiciary Non-Civil Committee on House Bill 334, which would expunge qualifying criminal records, and Senate Bill 154, which would reform occupational licensing barriers for justice-impacted individuals. Nearly a dozen small businesses added their names in support of these bills.
Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive policy agenda to ensure young entrepreneurs have the tools they need to contribute to a thriving and equitable economy. In the United States, there are nearly 5.9 million entrepreneurs under the age of 35. According to a recent study conducted by Junior Achievement USA, 3 in 5 American teens (60%) would be more interested in starting their own business than having a traditional job. Young Georgians should have the resources and support to start and grow their own business.
On February 22, Small Business Majority's Georgia Director Rachel Shanklin submitted a letter to the House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil Committee in support of HB 334, legislation that will expand record clearing, which will in turn increase workforce opportunities for Georgia small businesses.
On February 22, Small Business Majority's Georgia Director Rachel Shanklin submitted a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of of SB 157, legislation that will give Georgians a fair chance and help expand our state’s skilled workforce by making it easier for entrepreneurs and jobseekers to obtain occupational licenses.
On February 21, Small Business Majority, LISC Atlanta, New Town Macon, the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative and Albany Community Together, Inc. submitted a letter to the Georgia House Committee on Banks and Banking in opposition to HB 84, legislation that would make Georgia small businesses vulnerable to non-transparent financing providers by failing to require all providers to disclose the annual percentage rate (APR) or estimated APR.
Without a trace of experience in the food industry, Matt Weyandt and his family sailed into the world of chocolate and launched Xocolatl in late 2014. Although their business is based in Atlanta, Matt and his wife Elaine discovered the wonders of chocolate and chocolate-making processes in the Costa Rican jungles.
While small businesses employ nearly half (46.4%) of the private workforce in the United States, many are struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce. One viable solution to their persistent workforce challenges is the passing of Clean Slate policies, which seal and expunge certain criminal records and allow justice-impacted individuals to seek employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Individual state analyses of small business responses in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas found widespread support for Clean Slate policies at the state and federal level.
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