About

Small Biz. Big Voice.

Main Street Alliance is a national network of 30,000 small business owners organizing to reclaim economic and political power for local communities. We know what’s really happening in our neighborhoods because we live it every day. Together, we’re driving the economic conversation too often dominated by massive corporations, winning policies that let small businesses thrive, and plugging entrepreneurs back into civic life that’s excluded us.

And we’re just getting started. Main Street Action takes the next step—organizing local leaders to defend our values in the halls of power.

Main Street Vision

Our vision is simple: a fair economy where folks who roll up their sleeves and do the work can make a decent living, care for their families, and build something lasting for the next generation.

We believe America works best when Main Street is strong. That means:

Small business owners—especially Black, Brown, and women entrepreneurs who have too often been excluded—having a real say in the rules that shape our lives.
Local businesses setting the tone for our towns, not giant corporations in far-off boardrooms.
A country where running a business doesn’t mean choosing between caring for your family or keeping the lights on.

And when we say “small business owner,” we mean everyone hustling to make a living, from sole proprietors and family shops to digital pioneers carving new paths. Expanding who counts shows the real face of Main Street today and makes sure no one is left out of shaping our future.

Who’s Fighting For You?

Main Street Alliance was born from a simple idea in 2008:

Small business owners ought to have as much say in shaping our future as the big corporations that throw their weight around in DC.

Our first campaign made sure Main Street voices helped shape the Affordable Care Act, proving that when small business owners show up, we change the national conversation.
When the Great Recession—and later the COVID-19 crisis—hit, our members stuck together and fought for billions in relief to keep small businesses alive. That included everything from paycheck protection to grants that saved local venues, diverse chambers, and community mainstays.
Our power has grown in the states too. In Wisconsin, our members won one of the largest small business support packages in the country—$1.6 billion to help entrepreneurs stay afloat. In Minnesota, we helped pass paid family and medical leave so folks no longer have to choose between a paycheck and caring for their loved ones. And from Maine to Washington, entrepreneurs have turned crises into collective action, making sure Main Street sets the tone for economic recovery and policy change.
What started as a handful of shopkeepers, café owners, contractors, and community entrepreneurs has grown into a 30,000-strong network. Together, we’re proving that when Main Street shows up, we win.

Theory of Change

Small business owners have always been told: if you work hard, you’ll succeed. But they’re navigating an economy shaped by forces far bigger than any one shop…rising costs, corporate concentration, and political dysfunction that leaves communities exposed.

When the conditions around them shift, small business owners feel the storm first. Our work helps them change the weather.

1. Ground the Narrative
Put real Main Street voices in the national conversation
We help small business owners step into public life as trusted narrators of what’s happening in their communities. Their stories cut through misinformation and reshape how people understand the economy.
Impact
• 50 million earned and digital media impressions in 2025
• Coverage across CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, and dozens of local outlets
• MSA members serving as plaintiffs in six legal actions challenging executive overreach
2. Normalize Participation
Make civic engagement part of everyday life
We build civic infrastructure on Main Street in the places people already gather. Through listening sessions, local hubs, and community events, small business owners help neighbors understand how government works and how to take part.
Impact
• Nonpartisan voter registration and civic education in trusted local spaces
• Policy and media training for more than 2,000 advocates in 2025
3. Make Power Answerable
Turn lived experience into public action
We organize the real experiences of small business owners, workers, and families into campaigns that shape public policy.
Through initiatives like Care Is Capital, we elevate local voices to advance care, economic security, and thriving local economies.
Impact
• Days of Action, fly-ins, and public forums across multiple states
• Policy Playbook series connecting constituents with elected officials

The Power of Main Street Voices

At Main Street Alliance, we believe small business owners are America’s most trusted messengers—and too often, the most overlooked in policymaking. We’re not just employers or entrepreneurs; we’re civic anchors, problem-solvers, and advocates for a fairer economy.

Why small business owners are best positioned to lead:

We’re among the most credible voices in America. People listen when Main Street speaks.
We have real skin in the game. State and federal policies decide if our businesses survive.
We’re evergreen. We don’t pack up after an election. We stay and keep leading.
We live the affordability crisis weighing on families. Healthcare, childcare, housing, and rising costs hit us first and hardest.
That’s why we’re building a diverse, multiracial coalition of small business leaders from every walk of life. When we lift up these voices, we don’t just react to bad policy…we set the agenda for thriving local economies.