PRINCIPLES FOR MAIN STREET ALLIANCE’S CAPITAL ACCESS WORK

Access to capital is critical to the full recovery and long-term vitality of Main Street Alliance members, especially coming out of a two-year-long pandemic. We support policies that help entrepreneurs acquire the capital they need and support their effective use of that capital to launch and operate successful businesses that contribute to good employment and generational and community wealth. Access to capital proposals should be race-forward, intentionally geared to promoting racial equity.

Access to capital policy proposals should advance the following principles:

• Make patient, high-quality capital available to entrepreneurs on terms and timelines that support high-road businesses in communities impacted by disinvestment

• Require that financial institutions of all types be transparent with their products, offer affordable products with reasonable terms, implement strong anti-discrimination policies, and meet community reinvestment obligations

• Help build a public and private capital access infrastructure that supports a vibrant, equitable small business economy, including creating mechanisms for delivering capital equitably, reliably, and efficiently to the business owners who need funds the most

• Build bcapacity for regular, proactive communication and dialogue with small business owners, assessing their needs and priorities, and providing clear and consistent information

• Provide ongoing resources for supporting small businesses with key functions (such as accounting/bookkeeping, financial planning, HR support, and more) through trusted professionals, thereby helping level the playing field for BIPOC-owned businesses, rural businesses, and immigrant-owned businesses

• Place small business at the center of economic development, with an emphasis on high-road jobs and community wealth-building in BIPOC communities