A look back on our advocacy efforts throughout the month of May
SBAM PAC Board Makes Endorsements
SBAM was one of the first organizations, and the first among the business organizations to make the first round of endorsements. In May, the SBAM PAC release the first round of endorsements of candidates who had a previous SBAM endorsement. A full list of first round candidates can be found here, and second round candidates can be found here.
Annual Lansing PAC Fundraiser
SBAM hosted a successful PAC Fundraiser on May 12th at the Hope Sports Complex in Lansing. This fundraiser is the largest PAC fundraiser SBAM hosts and is accompanied by several regional fundraisers. These fundraisers allow us to be influential in the election and financially back candidates who are pro-small business.
If you are interested in contributing to our PAC, please visit our website.
Child Care Testimony
I testified in front of the Senate Small Business and Economic Development Committee on a large package of bills focused on our child care industry. House bills 5041-5047 streamline regulations and help increase the number of child care providers. The bills were voted unanimously out of the committee. We expect these bills to be signed into law.
SBAM leads on Talent
SBAM, along with several other business organization, crafted a talent policy agenda that has been shared with key legislators and leaders. Items on the talent policy agenda include:
- Increasing the Going Pro Talent Fund to 100M annually
- Supporting and expanding the Michigan Reconnect program, which is a last dollar scholarship for displaced workers to get back into the workforce and gain a degree from their local community college
- Creating a fast track system that will aid in the streamlining of job training programs in Michigan and make them more tailored and flexible to business needs
- Creating a near completer scholarship that is geared towards those Michiganders who have earned some credits without obtaining a degree
- Supporting an internship program that helps financially support up to 50% of the costs of a paid internship, allowing more small businesses to offer internships to students
Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference 2022
Brian Calley, Kelli Saunders and I attended the annual Detroit Regional Chamber Mackinac Policy Conference. The conference was a great opportunity for SBAM to showcase our influence in the policy arena, as Brian Calley participated in a panel discussion on housing as well as several media interviews. Connections and conversations made at the conference aid in SBAM’s continued impact on statewide policy that lifts up small businesses.
