American Families Plan Invests in the Care Infrastructure Needed for a Strong Economic Recovery
On the release of the American Families Plan today, the second half the of Biden-Harris administration’s Build Back Better Agenda, Main Street Alliance Executive Director Stephen Michael had this to say:
“Small businesses across the nation applaud the serious investment in critical care infrastructure included in the American Families Plan.
With a bold national plan for 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, significant new investments to make child care more affordable -- including support for the Child Care for Working Families Act as well as extensions to tax credits for child care and the EITC -- President Biden is acknowledging the importance of care infrastructure in keeping our economy competitive as small businesses and working families work to build back better….
Small Biz applaud bipartisan Senate bill to make critical PPP updates retroactive, say it's urgently needed
April 21, 2021
On the bipartisan Senate introduction of a bill to make changes to the PPP for sole proprietors and farmers retroactive, Main Street Alliance Government Affairs Director Didier Trinh had this to say:
“The bill introduced by Small Business Committee Chair Senator Cardin and a bipartisan group of Senators across the country to retroactively allow sole proprietors and farmers to use gross revenue to calculate PPP amounts is a critical fix to addressing the major gaps for our smallest businesses. Making it even more imperative is the fact that minority-owned businesses are around 30% more likely to be sole proprietors.
Small Businesses Applaud President Biden's Announcement of expanded emergency paid leave credits for vaccinations
April 21, 2021
On the President Biden’s announcement of expanded paid leave credits for vaccinations, Main Street Alliance Programs Director Cynthia Ward Wikstrom had this to say:
“Small business owners know, and last year has certainly shown - that community health and economic health go hand in hand. A robust vaccination effort will be key to our full recovery. The extension of the emergency paid leave tax credit through the fall ensures small business owners can offer paid leave to our employees for COVID-related care needs, including getting critical vaccines. We applaud President Biden’s statement today drawing attention to this program and new information on how small business owners can access the program. This program is a hidden gem that every small business owner needs to know exists. Emergency paid leave has been critical for small business owners and their employees across the country. We also applaud President Biden’s inclusion of a permanent paid leave program in the Administration Build Back Better agenda as paid leave and investments in our care infrastructure are key to building a more resilient economy.”
Independent Businesses Launch Coalition to Fight Monopoly Power
April 6, 2021
Small Business Rising Brings Together Over 20 Independent Business Organizations
To Call on Congress and the Administration to Reinvigorate Antitrust
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 6, 2021) - A new coalition of independent businesses is launching today to urge policymakers to rein in monopoly power and level the playing field that has long left them at a competitive disadvantage. For the first time, small and independent businesses are adding their voices to the growing chorus calling for changes to federal policies that have allowed monopolies like Amazon to amass outsized power and influence.
PPP Extension Critical - and provides opportunity to address sole proprietor needs through retroactive application of current rules
March 25, 2021
“With the Biden Administration’s recent, critical changes to the Paycheck Protection Program, adding a couple more months of eligibility will be key for businesses needing extra time to apply or waiting on opening of industry-specific grant funds. We urge President Biden to sign this extension immediately. There is still a glaring gap in PPP accessibility, however, which is to make the current revenue rules for sole proprietors retroactive, as was done for small farmers last year, so they can access the funds they deserve and desperately need. Over 90% of BIPOC small business owners are sole proprietors, and for many this change came too late. With the extended timeline, there is no excuse not to retroactively address the massive disparities in PPP access and financial support.”