Congresswoman Beatty Celebrates Small Business Week
This year, National Small Business Week (NSBW) is September 20th through September 26th. First recognized in 1964, NSBW recognizes the critical importance of small business owners and the American entrepreneurial spirit have on our national economy.
“In the midst of a global pandemic that has changed the fabric of America and our very way of life, we are yet again reminded of the tremendous impact our nation’s small businesses have in communities across the country,” U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) said. “That is why, throughout my entire time in Congress, I have fought hard for 1099 workers, independent contractors, gig workers, and the smallest small businesses, as well as minority-owned and women-owned small businesses.”
As the Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion, and being a former small business owner, Beatty took a lead role in helping to draft the proposal allocating tens of billions of dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for community development financial institutions and other non-traditional lenders that have historically served communities of color as well as rural and urban areas. Enacted by Congress to provide forgivable loans to small businesses during the COVID-19 emergency, PPP loans can be used to cover payroll costs, rent, mortgages, and utility payments.
In addition, Beatty is pushing for further PPP expansion through her bill, the Making Opportunities a Reality for Entrepreneurs (MORE) PPP Act, H.R. 6893. The comprehensive piece of legislation would guarantee that our community’s smallest small businesses like barbers, beauticians, and nail technicians—not to mention family restaurants, those working from gig to gig, sole proprietors, and the self-employed—have fairer access to participate in the PPP.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, accounting for more than half of our nation’s workforce and almost two out of every three new jobs,” Beatty noted. “Simply put, small businesses make our economy strong.” She added, “I can think of no better way to mark National Small Business Week than by passing much-needed legislation to help our country’s more than 28 million small business owners weather COVID-19’s financial storm. It’s time to put Main Street first.”
For more information on NSBW, please visit the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) website. Be sure to join in on the celebration of National Small Business week by using: #SmallBusinessWeek, #NSBW, and #DreamSmallBiz.