Open Letter for Ecosystem Builders Responding to COVID-19

Living through times of uncertainty and a global crisis has definitely added to the perspective and multi-layered work many of us are doing to support our communities. I've always valued and appreciated the opportunity to serve my community through non-profit work but never once considered myself a first-responder. Coronavirus is changing that.

Over the last few weeks, the team at Small Business Majority has worked incredibly hard, on multiple levels by:

1. Rapid response work through outreach and education
2. Informing policy recommendations
3. Mobilizing collective voices and conducting research to drive forward policy solutions to better serve microbusinesses
4. Collecting resources for our small business community in our one-stop hub, Venturize

None of it has been easy, but it has been rewarding, and yet other moments it feels agonizing. Let me explain.

For those of you that work directly supporting small business owners whether through direct service, as a lending institution, as a technical assistance provider or a legislator, you too are hearing countless stories of our community members concerned about their livelihoods and worried that the businesses they've worked so hard to build are crumbling before their eyes. It is moments like this that test the ability of an organization to pivot and be nimble with the end goal of meeting the moment and the mission of our organizations. We are doing just that.

Recognizing a need to ensure our most vulnerable communities are not left behind, it has been incredible to see and be a part of, the ecosystem building work that has taken place either at local, regional, statewide, or national level with one collective goal in sight--save Mainstreet businesses.

Now more than ever, small business issues are taking center stage in state and federal policy discussions as legislators recognize the importance of entrepreneurship to our economy and act to implement policies to help small businesses through this crisis. To that end, the Kauffman Foundation and Small Business Majority are hosting a conversation about how stakeholder groups and business organizations can continue to support small business needs during the COVID-19 crisis and keep up the momentum as we move toward a recovery phase. On Thursday, May 7 at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT we're hosting a forum to discuss:

• The Kauffman Foundation's crisis response and "Rebuilding Better" plan
• information about the Start Us Up Coalition and how to get involved to promote small business needs
• COVID-19 tips and resources for entrepreneurs and business organizations

It is true we are all working in different ways, but ultimately we make up the ecosystem that supports inclusivity and economic mobility through the power of entrepreneurship and small business ownership. Looking at our work through a lens of equity by recognizing that every small business community is not the same and cannot benefit from "one-size fits all" solution we--the ecosystem--cannot understate the benefit of working collectively to ensure no community is left behind.

For me, that has meant looking at the disproportionate access points for communities of color, minorty-owned businesses, and women entrepreneurs and tailoring my work to do what I can to support these underserved populations. A recent article published by Washington Center for Equitable Growth, looked at some of the learning lessons from the US Small Business Administration's first round of lending from its Payroll Protection Program and describes some of the "already existing skeins of economic inequality that, in large part, biased how these funds would be disbursed." We can do better, and we must do better -- small businesses across the country depend on it.

It's promising to know that our recent polling and policy recommendations are being considered as offering a roadmap to some of the pragmatic policy solutions business owners will benefit drastically from.

This week for me has been one of reflection and I don't think I've had the opportunity to thank you all for all of the work you're doing, so I'm using this platform to do so.

First, I want to thank every member of our team at Small Business Majority. Every single person has been a critical part of the response efforts on the ground and via policy solutions. Our work would not be possible without the support of our funders, so I also want to acknowledge them for their flexibility and commitments in helping us meet this moment and our mission.

Next, I want to thank our partner organizations who are collaborating with us in multiple different ways. Some are helping to co-host events, some are helping to drive traffic to our sign-on letter. And I want to give a special shout-out to the organizations listed below who have stepped up to help support our national Spanish webinar series every Wednesday--supporting Latino business owners and entrepreneurs.

 Accion, California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Support Latino Business, SBDC East LA, ICIC, DCBA, University of Southern California, Councilman Price's Office, Adelante Community Development, Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center, Silicon Valley Hispanic Chamber, CWWG, Sonoma County Go Local, CA Women's Business Center Network, San Jose Public Library Works, City of San Jose, Main Street Launch, ActionSpot Corp, Solano Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Working Solutions, Good Business Colorado, Mi Casa Resource Center, Microenterprise Collaborative, San Diego & Imperial Women's Business Center (WBC), Fresno State Small Business Development Center, Consulado de Mexico and Access Plus Capital 

For any small business owner reading this, please don't lose hope. You're our nation's top job creators, you're the backbone of the American economy and you're our fellow community members. Know that many people you may not be able to see are working behind the scenes on your behalf to articulate the sense of urgency and type of support you need to make it through this crisis to our policymakers. We can continue to do so by amplifying and elevating your voices and your stories.

A network of ecosystem builders is working with you and for you to ensure that no group is left behind.