About

Small Biz. Big Voice.

Main Street Alliance is a network of 30,000 small business owners in every corner of the country, working together to take back control of our Main Streets. We know what’s really happening in our communities 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 been told: if you just work hard, you’ll succeed. But we know the truth — the rules are stacked in favor of big corporations and ruthless monopolies.

To level the playing field, we:

  • Shape the Story

    We train local small business owners to find their voice and uplift their stories in the media and online. Their testimony shows the real struggles on Main Street and shape the conversation about what’s fair.

    • Impact:

      • Reached 35–45 million people last year — the same as a $3–5M national ad campaign, but on a shoestring budget.

      • Earned coverage in CNN, The New York Times, MSNBC, Business Insider, Forbes, and dozens of local outlets.

    We prove everyday that main street can move state and national headlines.

    Speak to Power

    We organize main street leaders to meet with lawmakers, speak out at town halls, rally at the capitol, and even go to court when officials overstep.

    • Impact:

      • Won 3 out of 4 major court cases challenging executive overreach.

      • Helped win $300M in small business support in the Wisconsin state budget after our annual day of action.

      • Drove elected education that shaped the Affordable Care Act, Paid Leave policies in various states, and COVID relief

    New media-only efforts generate buzz but fizzle without on-the-ground validators. We’re on your local news AND in your statehouse, fighting for what’s fair.

    Pull People Into the Process

    We bring more people into the work of perfecting our democracy. Small business owners encourage their customers, employees, and neighbors to register and vote — especially folks who’ve been left out before, like Women and Black and Brown citizens.

    • Impact:

      • Built a 30,000-member network, growing by 200 new members every month.

      • Registering 25,000 new voters by the end of 2026—and 100,000 by 2028.

    Our members are bringing citizens back into civic life, one Main Street conversation at a time.

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.

Team

We’re a scrappy team with more than 50 years of combined experience in comms, policy and advocacy.

Staff

  • Richard Trent

    Executive Director

  • Shawn Phetteplace

    Campaigns Director

  • Lauren Bealore

    Policy & Organizing Strategist

  • Daniela Mrabti

    Comms Consultant - Mori Strategies

  • Chris Collins

    Deputy Director

  • Yash Mori

    Senior Advisor - Mori Strategies

Board

  • Molly Weston Williamson

    Sr. Fellow, Center for American Progress

  • Michelle Tressler

    Co-owner, Hinterland Brewery & Restaurant

  • Thomas Lee Johnson

    CEO and Founder, Agile Immersive

  • J. Kelly Conklin

    Board Treasurer, Foley Waite Associates

  • David Borris

    Board President, Hel’s Kitchen Catering

Supporters