On April 21, Small Business Majority's Georgia Director Rachel Shanklin testified before the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means field hearing on the State of the American Economy: The South.
Georgia Policy Statements
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 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 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 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.
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.
On March 23, 2022 Small Business Majority submitted a letter to the Georgia House Committee on Industry and Labor in support of the Georgia Family Insurance Act (HB 1517), which would establish a state-run insurance program that would guarantee all eligible workers 12 weeks of paid medical and family leave.
On March 4, Small Business Majority submitted a letter in support of the Georgia Economic Growth Act to the House Committee on Government Affairs at the Georgia General Assembly. The legislation will establish a State Office of Supplier Diversity, which would help increase supplier diversity in state contracts and expand procurement opportunities targeting minority-owned businesses in Georgia.
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.