This morning, along with several other Charlotte small business leaders, I attended a breakfast meeting with Anthony Foxx, who is announcing his candidacy for mayor this evening. At the meeting, Foxx shared his commitment to the small business community and asked us to share our suggestions about what he should do if elected mayor to ensure that small businesses in Charlotte continue to thrive.
I seized the opportunity to ask Foxx to elaborate on how the age-old definition of "small business" needs to change to accommodate the realities of an economy that includes a new kind of small business — tiny, independent businesses, often family owned and run from a home — that are cropping up in Charlotte and in cities nationwide. I suggested that, as mayor, he may wish to prioritize resources to help these types of businesses thrive even though they are not viewed as a traditional part of the business economy in Charlotte and in most cities.
Foxx agreed that "small" has not historically really meant "small" when it comes to business. He also said, that if elected, he would carry a "small and independent business message" to the US Conference of Mayors as a part of an effort to ensure that Charlotte and cities like it understand the concerns and appreciate the contributions that independent business owners are making to local and state economies.
I was pleased with this part of his response and will be watching to see how he and other city leaders create new infrastructures and resources that Indies can use to network, support and grow. You can follow Foxx's candidacy on Twitter and at his website. I encourage you to take a look at what's happening where you live. (I also want to acknowledge search engine firm Rushmore Drive, the gracious host of this morning's event.)
Question: What are your local leaders doing to recognize and support your efforts as an independent business owner?
Hi dM. The Ozarks area seems very supportive of small business. One of the advantages where I’m located(rural SW MO) is that this area is an 80% farming area. So about 3 out of 5 residents are more or less a small business unto themselves. This area is mainly cattle (MO floats up and down as # 1 or 2 in the US as far as cattle numbers)with other crops such as soybean, corn and fruits. So when there are business meeting at our local chambers, it’s mostly small business owners. The local electeds almost always come from farms or grew up on a farm or Mom & Dad had a small business so when there are concerns, it usually doesn’t go over their heads. As they have neighbors and constituents who do not hesitate to tell them the 411. I know I sure have.
Where the “fun” starts is in the State arena. There are people in Jeff City who have never lived anywhere but a city or suburb and only worked for someone else or only have had jobs on a government payroll. Very little private sector job experience, never had to scuffle like the average Joe & Jane and they get even more clueless as the years go by. The kind of people like when you and the ladies went to DC and talked to Reps. and Aides who didn’t even know our small business niche exsisted.
In my rural farming area, they do know it exsists, because it’s ALWAYS exsisted in rural farmng areas. The crafts shows, the small shops on the Main Sts, the Mennonite and Amish stores. The Branson area alone is mainly small family businesses doing BIG business.
My county’s retail bus. licence is $35.00 a year and my town’s is $15.00. The mayor has been a grant writing nut to get the USDA grants for rural business development. Our County’s and the towns officials and area chamber has been stressing buy local for as long as I’ve been here (since 1995) and have all kinds of brochures and events that small businesses are encouraged to participate in. Several banks also have a small business account option that is geared for the really small business that just cannot keep a “standard” balance of $500 in checking that most business accounts require. It was an extra page of paperwork, but it was so handy and I found the extra 10 minutes 🙂
So all in all, my area of the Ozarks has been very supportive of small businesses. I won’t speak for other areas but in my part, so far it’s been supportive. Being originally from Chicago, it’s been a refreshing relief from that “Business as usual” politcal mindset.
Hi dM. The Ozarks area seems very supportive of small business. One of the advantages where I’m located(rural SW MO) is that this area is an 80% farming area. So about 3 out of 5 residents are more or less a small business unto themselves. This area is mainly cattle (MO floats up and down as # 1 or 2 in the US as far as cattle numbers)with other crops such as soybean, corn and fruits. So when there are business meeting at our local chambers, it’s mostly small business owners. The local electeds almost always come from farms or grew up on a farm or Mom & Dad had a small business so when there are concerns, it usually doesn’t go over their heads. As they have neighbors and constituents who do not hesitate to tell them the 411. I know I sure have.
Where the “fun” starts is in the State arena. There are people in Jeff City who have never lived anywhere but a city or suburb and only worked for someone else or only have had jobs on a government payroll. Very little private sector job experience, never had to scuffle like the average Joe & Jane and they get even more clueless as the years go by. The kind of people like when you and the ladies went to DC and talked to Reps. and Aides who didn’t even know our small business niche exsisted.
In my rural farming area, they do know it exsists, because it’s ALWAYS exsisted in rural farmng areas. The crafts shows, the small shops on the Main Sts, the Mennonite and Amish stores. The Branson area alone is mainly small family businesses doing BIG business.
My county’s retail bus. licence is $35.00 a year and my town’s is $15.00. The mayor has been a grant writing nut to get the USDA grants for rural business development. Our County’s and the towns officials and area chamber has been stressing buy local for as long as I’ve been here (since 1995) and have all kinds of brochures and events that small businesses are encouraged to participate in. Several banks also have a small business account option that is geared for the really small business that just cannot keep a “standard” balance of $500 in checking that most business accounts require. It was an extra page of paperwork, but it was so handy and I found the extra 10 minutes 🙂
So all in all, my area of the Ozarks has been very supportive of small businesses. I won’t speak for other areas but in my part, so far it’s been supportive. Being originally from Chicago, it’s been a refreshing relief from that “Business as usual” politcal mindset.
@S.L. Meyer: Wow! Sounds like most cities, counties and states across the country can take notes on what the Ozarks has been doing for years. All of the things you mentioned are really a template that any community can use to expand opportunities and support for small and family-owned businesses. Demand for that kind of support is only going to increase over the next few years. Thanks for sharing. Hmmmm, maybe some Indies should consider moving to the Ozarks ….
@S.L. Meyer: Wow! Sounds like most cities, counties and states across the country can take notes on what the Ozarks has been doing for years. All of the things you mentioned are really a template that any community can use to expand opportunities and support for small and family-owned businesses. Demand for that kind of support is only going to increase over the next few years. Thanks for sharing. Hmmmm, maybe some Indies should consider moving to the Ozarks ….