TX

Small Business Majority Helps Advance Clean Slate Expansion in Texas

Today, Public Policy Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted written testimony in favor of SB 499, Clean Slate Texas, to the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. The legislation would strengthen our economy, expand the talent poll for small businesses, and make Texas a better place to live and work. 

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Small Business Majority Supports Expansion of Clean Slate in Texas

Today, Public Policy Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted written testimony in favor of SB 499, Clean Slate Texas, to the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. The legislation would strengthen our economy, expand the talent poll for small businesses, and make Texas a better place to live and work. 

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Small Business Majority supports ending OmniBase in Texas

On March 30, Small Business Majority's Public Policy Director Awesta Sarkash wrote in support for SB 1281, legislation that would end the OmniBase program in Texas. This program enforces debt-based license holds on individuals with overdue fines and fees, which impacts small businesses and their employees and their ability to seek employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.  

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Texas entrepreneur emphasizes marketing needs in the small business space

Neha Mehta has an entrepreneurial spirit that is always leading her to try something new. She, along with her husband, are the co-founders of Seashore Solutions LLC. located in Austin, Texas. After decades of multi-industry experience, they decided to launch Seashore in 2017, a consulting and software firm that provides affordable, sustainable and cutting-edge solutions to a global client base. Products range from mobile application development to e-commerce websites to enterprise-level solutions such as third-party integration.

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State reports: Small business owners support criminal justice reforms to address persistent workforce challenges

Publisher: 
Small Business Majority
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Date: 
Wednesday, January 25, 2023

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.

Texas business owner delivers subscription boxes to uplift and empower Black-owned businesses

Lauren Fontaine’s small business, Blackscriptions, is a quarterly subscription box full of goodies from a selection of Black-owned businesses. What’s different about this subscription? There are a couple of things, the most significant being its objective. Lauren calls her boxes a conduit, connecting others to Black-owned businesses needing further support and sales. 

“I launched Blackscriptions out of my desire to economically uplift and empower Black-owned businesses,” Lauren said. 

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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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Texas small business relies on ingenuity when federal funding falls short

Faced with a lack of diverse food options, Jaja Chen and Devin Li decided to bring a bit of their East Asian heritage to Waco, Texas. 

Waco Cha started off as a tent at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market selling boba tea, but within a year they gained so much popularity that Jaja and Devin were able to purchase a truck and expand their reach and their services. Not only were they selling boba out of their truck, but they began hosting “Dumpling Night Workshop,” where they teach members of their community how to fold, make and eat dumplings from start to finish. 

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Lifelong caregiver turned business owner celebrates National Caregivers Month

Photo of small business owner Fran BonnerFran Bonner is not your average small business owner: She has been a caregiver for more than 67 years. When she was just 11 years old, her grandmother and great aunt both suffered from strokes, and Fran would spend her days going back and forth from school to home in order to make sure her loved ones were fed and taken care of.

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