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The new bill is aimed at supporting justice-impacted individuals and their opportunities for work after repaying their debt to society. This month, Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) reintroduced his NEW START Act – legislation aimed at creating reentry programs with the SBA, awarding grants for business counseling and entrepreneurial development training to justice-impacted individuals. The bill would establish a five-year pilot program providing award grants of $100,000 to $500,000 to organizations annually over the five-year period. Participating organizations would execute entrepreneurial development training for formerly incarcerated individuals, and organizations seeking grants would partner with lenders in the SBA Microloan program and Community Advantage program; this would provide qualifying program participants the ability to obtain loans and build their business. While the bill is still only introduced, read Senator Cardin’s release on the NEW START act here, and follow NSBA as we continue to track legislation and related small-business initiatives from Capitol Hill.

Comments to this working proposal are due in 60 days. UPDATE: At the urgency of the small-business community, the FTC extended the comment period through April 19. NSBA encourages all affected parties to consider and comment. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week proposed rules, which would ban noncompete agreements across the board. Citing concerns with how nearly one in five college grads are subject to strict noncompete agreements, as well as how noncompete agreements impose restraint on trade, the FTC is collecting comments on its proposed regulations over the next two months. Until recently, governance of non-compete agreements has remained in the purview of the states. However, the FTC recently issued a ruling against three companies for their use of noncompetes. Those rulings, plus this new, unilateral move into an area that typically is dealt with at the state level adds a layer of confusion as to whether or not FTC even has the authority to promulgate such rules. According to a March 2022 FTC report, lack of competition for labor and restrictive covenant agreements “likely reduces” wages by as much as 20 percent. The issue of noncompete and nondisclosure agreements is one that impacts various small businesses differently. For many small, innovative businesses, noncompete and nondisclosure agreements ensure fair competition against larger companies that have greater ability to lure employees—and their working knowledge of the company—away from a smaller competitor. Faced with an already uneven playing field against larger, more powerful companies, noncompete agreements can help these companies better protect their intellectual property and processes from larger competitors. On the other hand, noncompete agreements can be a barrier to new business formation for employees looking to start their own business in a similar industry, particularly when there aren’t major intellectual property issues at stake. Furthermore, enforcement of noncompete and nondisclosure agreements is far more difficult for a resource-strapped small business than it is a large corporation. For more information on this proposal, including comment submissions regarding how this proposal affects small business employees and owners, follow NSBA and read more here.

"...what you might think of as failure is really teaching us something valuable.” When it comes to helping nonprofit organizations reach their full potential, Sandra Chaney wrote the book. Literally. As a matter of fact, the Annapolis, Maryland-based nonprofit strategist is an eight-time author on the topics of business, self-help and nonprofit management. Ms. Chaney says that she didn’t choose her journey, rather, “it chose me.” A survivor of domestic violence, she first began her career in advocacy and nonprofit strategy as a volunteer at My Sister’s Place, a local nonprofit women’s shelter. Seeing that “their story was my story,” Sandra dedicated herself to fighting for the welfare of domestic violence survivors. She also quickly took to the skill helping the group gain access to new resources—both through grant writing and lobbying local officials. After three years with the nonprofit, Sandra realized that she could add greater value to the nonprofit world by entering the private sector where she founded Sandra Chaney Enterprises, Inc. In 19 years as co-founder and chief visionary officer of Sandra Chaney Enterprises, Sandra has helped countless nonprofits find their “why” and build a sustainable organization around that mission. Guiding nonprofits to build from the inside-out has been her greatest joy. According to Ms. Chaney, “...everything my clients need, they already have.” Sandra helps her clients strategize and provides a variety of essential services including grant writing. Today, she has secured over $20 million in funds for her clients. Since 2005, she’s authored eight books on her story, single motherhood, success for women in small business, and nonprofit development. Among these, The Inside Secrets To Getting Money For Your Non-Profit has become a guidebook for nonprofits who struggle to secure the funding they need. Despite the demands of her consultancy and writing careers, Sandra continues to make advocacy one of her top priorities. To Sandra, the power of advocacy comes from using her voice for others who may not be able to make their own voices heard. And when it comes to small-business advocacy, she supports efforts to level the playing field: “I love to see people win, especially small businesses...if I can play a small part in that, then I’m all for it.” Graciously, the author and nonprofit strategist is happy to talk with other small businesses and provide her insight. When asked what advice she’d give to first-time businesspeople, Ms. Chaney simply replied: “Breathe. You’re going to be successful, so just breathe.” Sandra also advises that first-time small-business owners reframe their relationship with failure: “We always feel like everything we do is failing, when in essence, it’s not. But what you might think of as failure is really teaching us something valuable.” To learn more about Ms. Chaney, visit her website here.

It is impossible to determine how added safeguards could have potentially slowed the disbursement of funds to those small businesses most in need. At the outset of the pandemic as business closures were mandated, small businesses faced the very real possibility of laying off workers and possibly never opening their doors again. NSBA and other small-business groups implored Congress to seek some lifeline for these businesses and their employees and the Paycheck Protection Act (PPP) came to be. The PPP was broadly supported by lawmakers on a bipartisan basis and was passed in less than two weeks—a remarkable speed for Congress. The tenets for providing these loans: make it simple for small businesses to apply and make the approval process quick. Unfortunately, bad actors chose to exploit those tenets, which led to a significant amount of fraud – bad actors who defied the intent of the law and the PPP program to make a profit. Government officials overseeing the pandemic funds’ distribution—and many others—have since conceded that additional safeguards could have prevented some fraud associated with these federal dollars. The difficulty with such criticisms is that hindsight is 20-20: it is impossible to determine how added safeguards could have potentially slowed the disbursement of funds to those small businesses who most needed it. This week, President Biden announced a new plan to address pandemic fraud and the effects it caused for the small-business community. Centered around implementing stronger fraud and identity theft prevention moving forward, the proposal is in three parts: Ensure resources & time for investigations and prosecution of those engaged in major or systemic pandemic fraud ($600 Million); and Invest in fraud prevention and identity theft ($600 Million); and Help the victims of identity theft ($400 Million). With $1.5 billion directed at reconciling the impacts of pandemic-related program fraud, law enforcement and agencies will be equipped to pursue recovery of the funds and justice for those committing the fraud. While NSBA condemns fraud and supports efforts to recover what amounts to stolen federal funds, it is imperative this effort not be unduly directed at small businesses or owners’ accidental errors in applying for pandemic programs. Relatedly, the Small Business Administration (SBA) – responsible for overseeing and implementing a significant portion of the country’s pandemic-related programs for small-business owners – would be better equipped to implement President Biden’s proposal with a full staff. For too long, key roles at the SBA have been vacant, and filling those roles must also be a priority for the administration. Read more about the White House’s proposal here. Read more about NSBA’s call for a fully staffed SBA here.

How grit and being involved helped build a life-raft for small business during COVID. If you’ve been to a recent NSBA event, you’re likely familiar with Bill Belknap as one of our resident contracting experts. Over the past seven years, Belknap has been a fixture in issue committees, webinars, and NSBA events. But what really separates Bill from the rest of the pack is his ethos on small business and service, which he’s developed through more than 40 years of experience in the military, corporate America, and as a Small Business Owner. After growing up on a farm in Indiana, Bill was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point where, he graduated in 1981. Serving 20 years in the Army with combat units and then in acquisition, his final assignment was Director, Army Science Board (ASB). ASB is a federal advisory committee that provides independent outside advice to senior military leadership on science and innovation. There, Bill developed a core competency on creating proactive policy solutions in a nonpartisan environment. Retiring after 20 years in the Army with numerous awards and accolades, Bill’s knack for innovation carried him to the world of big business, specifically Pfizer Inc. At Pfizer, he managed a site that generated over $1.5B in annual revenues. Bill learned the value of consensus building and stakeholder relations at Pfizer, two skills to which he attributes his success in small-business advocacy. Bill then decided to set out on his own, founding AEONRG, LLC, a veteran-owned small business that provides construction services to federal and state agencies. Since 2012, Bill and his team have been awarded over 180 government contracts. The company built a reputation as one of the most admired small businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania culminating with receiving Chester County Chamber’s 2023 Small Business of the Year Award. In that time, Bill has become a steadfast voice for small business, serving on several different NSBA Issue Committees and Policy Groups, and currently on the NSBA Board of Trustees where, he is the Vice Chair for Advocacy, overseeing all NSBA policy decisions. As COVID significantly affected his business starting in March of 2020, Bill became a strong proponent in NSBA’s fight for the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Having fought for the legislation that served as an operational “bridge” while many businesses were forced to shut down, Bill said, “I can’t over-emphasize the importance of being in-touch with policy and participating in the policy process for small businesses. NSBA has made a huge difference in my ability to be involved politically.” One value that Bill credits for success in his career is: GRIT. To Bill, grit is the art of “incorporating extreme perseverance and aggressively seeking resources to help overcome any obstacle or to achieve business goals.” Grit enabled him to find success in the Army, build a sustainable business, and weather the COVID storm. Bill believes that his grit isn’t proprietary—in fact, it’s his advice to all new and current business owners. When asked what words of wisdom he’d like to impart onto members of the small-business community, he said, “if other people can successfully start and grow a business, so can I. And, so can you.” Please click here to learn more about Bill and AEORNG, LLC.

The House Small Business Committee convened today for its annual hearing on the State of Main Street in America. On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, the House Small Business Committee (HSBC) held a hearing on the state of Main Street America with those who know it best: small-business owners. The hearing was an opportunity for the Committee to shine light on the importance of small business and their unique contribution to the U.S. economy. The witnesses also discussed some of their key challenges as a small-business owner to help set the tone for how to address small-business policy and best support America’s small businesses. Check back here for more, watch the hearing on the HSBC’s YouTube Channel, and catch up on the latest from HSBC, including the Committee’s organizational meeting to get organized for small business moving into the 118th Session of Congress: (will embed video)

Public participation in the regulatory process is a priority on every level in every phase. On March 7 at 3:00 p.m. EST, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) within the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) will host a virtual public listening session on “Public Participation in the Regulatory Process.” Along with several agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency, OIRA Administrator Richard Revesz will offer opening remarks and share current efforts to expand public engagement in the regulatory process. OIRA is looking for participants to share ideas and feedback on how federal agencies can better engage the public in the regulatory process. From drafting to implementation, OIRA is offering the following questions as a starting point for consideration: How to most effectively broaden public engagement in the Federal regulatory process, especially from members of underserved communities and those who do not typically participate in the regulatory process; How to eliminate or remove obstacles or barriers to greater public participation; How can existing materials be effective in revising and enhancing engagement; and How can intermediaries—such as trade associations or coalitions—be helpful in reaching stakeholders. Interested members of the public can submit written or recorded audio and video feedback to publicparticipation@omb.eop.gov. OIRA will be actively reviewing any submissions received through 5 PM ET March 10, 2023. Read the full OIRA announcement and objective list here, and RSVP to attend the virtual public listening session next Tuesday.

On Friday, Feb. 17, House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) called on President Joe Biden to nominate a Chief Counsel for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Advocacy. NSBA applauds this bipartisan effort to strengthen the Office of Advocacy, one of the organization’s recently-voted Top 10 Priorities for small business. According to Chair Williams, “The Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy is a critical watchdog fighting on behalf of our nation’s primary job creators. It is essential the vacant Chief Counsel for Advocacy role is filled to ensure small businesses are defended against burdensome regulations. I urge President Biden to nominate a qualified candidate to this post and hope he sees the necessity of this position.” Ranking Member Velazquez went on to say, “The SBA Office of Advocacy serves as the independent voice of small businesses within the government, promoting the concerns of entrepreneurs before all three branches of the federal system. I look forward to working with the Administration to fill the position of Chief Counsel, so the Office of Advocacy can represent small firms as effectively as possible.” Since 2017—more than five years—the position of Chief Counsel has not been filled, instead relegating the duties of this position to an already resource-strapped staff at Advocacy. The Office of Advocacy’s efforts at monitoring federal agency compliance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) resulted in changes to 10 specific rules that led to $773 million in quantifiable small-business regulatory compliance cost savings in FY2019 alone. “While not every small business may be aware of the Office of Advocacy, every small business across the country has benefited deeply from Advocacy’s efforts,” stated NSBA President and CEO Todd McCracken. “The House Small Business Committee ought to serve as an example to all lawmakers of why bipartisanship is not only important, but doable.” NSBA looks forward to working the both the House and Senate Small Business Committees on this critical issue and thanks Chair Williams and Ranking Member Velazquez for their bipartisan leadership.

NSBA’s Priority Issues are clear, and we can’t wait to get started working with Congress to improve opportunities and impacts of the country’s small-business community! NSBA’s biennial event known as the Small Business Congress was back in-person this year, with more than 100 small-business owners making their way to Washington to convene and identify our community’s policy priorities for the 118th Session of Congress. SBA Administrator Isabella Guzman takes a second to welcome SBC attendees with a video message on the importance of supporting the nation’s small-business community. NSBA | SBC 2023 Remarks from SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman - YouTube Headquartered in the historic Hotel Washington in the heart of downtown D.C., SBC began its program with our first Issue Panel on economic development, taking an in-depth look at the state of financing for small business, innovation and technology, federal contracting and global trade, as well as the policies in these areas that should and need to be addressed by Congress. Attendees heard from two sub-panels during this overall session: the first on procurement and the second on access to capital and lending. Procurement Panelists (L-R): NSBA First Vice Chair Marilyn Wilson (moderator) SBA Associate Administrator Bibi Hidalgo, from the SBA Office of Government Contracting and Business Development; Bill Belknap with the award-winning AEONRG; and Candace Waterman from Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP). The second sub-panel featured a lively discussion on credit and capital formation with insights from Diedra Henry-Spires, Senior Advisor to SBA Administrator Guzman and Olivia Nutter with the Page30 Coalition They discussed pandemic recovery efforts and the myriad of SBA programs available to help small businesses. Capital formation panelists: NSBA First Vice Chair Marilyn Wilson (moderator), Diedra Henry-Spires, Senior Advisor to SBA Administrator Guzman and Olivia Nutter with the Page30 Coalition SBC 2023’s second Issue Panel focused on taxation, exploring the various expiring tax credits and deductions, enhanced IRS enforcement, overall tax burden and complexity, and how lawmakers and regulators can help small business. Taxation Issue Panel featuring (L-R): NSBA Taxation Committee Chair Michael Canty (moderator), William McBride with the Tax Foundation, Rhett Buttle of the Small Business Roundtable, and Brian Reardon, President of the S-Corp Association Between vote and before lunch, NSBA attendees heard from Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce who spoke on her priorities and the efforts of the GOP leadership in the House when it comes to small business. After a busy morning, SBC attendees broke bread together and heard from long-time friend of NSBA, Donald Cravins, Jr., Esq., the U.S. Department of Commerce's first Secretary of Commerce for Minority Business Development. His engaging and entertaining speech talked about his own triumphs and tribulations of working to overcome inequities – especially in business. His life-long championing of small business and work on Capitol Hill—leading the Senate Small Business Committee staff during former-Chair Sen. Mary Landrieu’s tenure—has positioned him perfectly to lead Commerce’s efforts to help small businesses as they emerge from the pandemic. Secretary Cravins snaps a photo with NSBA Board Trustee and cousin Calvin Mills after offering a powerful speech on the importance of perseverance in small business, even in the face of adversity. NSBA President Todd McCracken then hosted a fireside chat with economic experts and highly respected journalists Heather Long of the Washington Postand with Zach Warmbrodt from POLITICO, who shared invaluable insight on the economy, what to expect in the coming months and years, and underscored the importance of small business to the overall U.S. economy. Media Fireside Chat Panelists (L-R): Heather Long Heather Long from the Washington Post, Zachary Warmbrodt from POLITICO and NSBA President Todd McCracken (moderator). Moving into the afternoon, the Environment and Regulatory Affairs Panel (ERA) convened, talking big picture issues and helping attendees identify targeted solutions for small businesses dealing with burdensome regulations, energy prices, and often-confusing environmental rules. ERA Panelists (L-R) NSBA's ERA Committee Chair Timothy Opsitnick (moderator), Joy Ragsdale of the Federal Communications Commission Office of Communicaitons, Janis Reyes from the SBA Office of Advocacy, and Major Clark - Deputy Chief Counsel for Advocacy. SBC 2023’s Health and Human Regulations (HHR) Issue Panel was up next, where panelists discussed health insurance, retirement, labor issues and the nation’s workforce to identify the most important steps policymakers can take to make hiring and keeping employees a reality. HHR Panelists : NSBA HHR Committee Chair Mike Schreurs, Gusto's Head of Policy Steven Abbott, Taylor Maag, Director of Workforce Policy with Progressive Policy Institute, and Ron Painter – CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards. Concluding the substantive work of day one for SBC 2023, attendees chose between two concurrent sessions: Small Business Growth with Digital Tools - a fireside chat with Diana Doukas, Public Policy Manager at Meta, discussing the ways that small businesses leverage digital tools to grow their business, from organic content like Reels, to personalized ads and the metaverse; and Doing Business with the Federal Government – a session lead by NSBA’s friends at PRISM Group public affairs and lobbying, covering the basics of doing business with the government and the resources available to you to get your foot in the door. If you weren’t able to attend this year’s SBC, check out PRISM Group’s resources guide on all things contracting for small business. Digital Tools Session Panelists (L-R): Diana Doukas with Meta and NSBA’s Todd McCracken. Federal Contracting Session Panelists (L-R): John Stanford, managing partner at Prism and Alexis D’Amato, director of government affairs at Prism. Although they weren’t able to attend in person, Congresswomen Davids (KS-03) and Chu (CA-28) sent prepared remarks pledging their support to continuing the conversation with the entire small-business community through NSBA’s channeled efforts. The small-business leaders in attendance at SBC were thoughtful, pragmatic and shared their insight to help move the ball down the field on their key priorities. Hat tip to Martha Hernandez, who kept the conversation going and wasn’t shy to speak up for small business. Cheers-ing to a productive first day of SBC 2023, attendees networked and relaxed at a rooftop reception, where activities at the White House were in full swing ahead of President Biden’s State of the Union Remarks. 15th Street was alive with the sounds of sirens and Secret Service, as a sunset welcomed the evening for a beautiful end of day for SBC 2023! In case you missed it, NSBA President Todd McCracken shared some remarks on the President’s annual address, including renewing NSBA’s commitment to working with any Member of Congress to support opportunities for small business. Starting day two of SBC 2023 with a hearty breakfast featuring Sen. Mike Braun (IN), House Small Business Committee Chair Rep. Roger Williams (TX), Rep. Bill Foster (IL), and Rep. Adrian Smith (NE), attendees were ready to move into the issue debating and voting. Chair Willaims addresses SBC 2023 attendees over breakfast at the Hotel Washington. Rep. Smith spending some time with our NSBA members after his remarks over breakfast on the importance of ensuring sound policies affecting small business. Next, John Stanford joined NSBA President Todd McCracken for a preview of Congress’ legislative plans for the next two years comprising the 118th Session. With voting margins razor thin, findings means of cooperation by maintaining bipartisan positions is the only way small business will find success in changing policies affecting bottom lines and opportunities to create jobs for others. Ahead of SBC 2023, NSBA hosted three Regional Listening Sessions to glean insights on NSBA members’ priorities regarding the realities of running their small business. From there, SBC attendees worked through the interactive app Poll Everywhere, allowing NSBA members to review and select priorities they would like to see pursued during the current 118th Session of Congress. Through this exercise and as a representation of our entire community’s focus, NSBA was able to discern the top 10 priorities affecting small business today. With these 10 matters identified, NSBA’s marching orders are clear: these are our priorities to be pursued with Congress and in the regulatory bureaucracy through 2025. Priorities are reselected every two years at the beginning of a new Session of Congress, and while these issues are NSBA’s priorities, the staff and leadership will continue to work on a wide array of issues that impact small business. Thank you to all of this year's attendees and supporters who made SBC 2023 a great success and a great start to providing solutions to the regulatory and financial constraints limiting American small businesses. We’re already planning for our annual fly-in – the Washington Presentaiton – where NSBA members are encouraged to meet with their Members of Congress to champion conversation on how to action the priorities identified at SBC 2023. Follow NSBA, share your pictures and small business story any chance you get on social media, and keep up the fight for small business!

NSBA stands against money laundering, but, for how its methods affect small business, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is not the way.

Lawmakers should act immediately to reverse this extremely problematic change to a five-year R&D amortization.

Congress must ensure it allocates the financial resources required for Advocacy, an office devoted solely to serving America’s small businesses.