To Go Big, We Should Think Small

As a small business owner, I know that businesses owned by those in the community, that employ from the community, invest in the community, and serve the community, are best for the community. By growing in and with their community, local businesses help define its spirit and character. But not only that, they are an important part of our economic success, accounting for nearly half of all businesses and providing opportunity for upward mobility to entrepreneurs.

However, it’s becoming harder and harder to succeed as a small business owner. Competition and consolidation mean that you need more than a good idea and hard work to succeed in today’s economy. Add into that student loan debt, health care uncertainty, and diminishing access to the capital necessary to start and grow a business, and you have a recipe for small business stagnation. And that was before a global pandemic which has been devastating to our small businesses.

Now, more than ever, we need to help our small businesses. That’s why, as a councilmember, I’ve focused on development and policies that help our small businesses, but there is still a lot of work left to do.