Seven ways business owners can get active in government

The government’s actions during the COVID pandemic are another example of how too much government regulation is bad for small businesses. The federal Paycheck Protection Program saw massive fraud cases. Many small businesses were excluded from these forgivable loans, while large corporations were awarded millions in taxpayer dollars. Government-mandated shutdowns allowed large “essential” retailers to stay open while small businesses shut down. Social distancing restrictions prevented small shops from having customers in their stores, but big box stores still made hefty profits. 

Since the pandemic, if you’re a business owner, you’re probably still feeling the pressure. Small businesses everywhere are on the brink of closure due to rising rent, continued inflation, lack of access to capital, and supply chain shortages. They can’t find good employees, and they’re losing foot traffic. Stricter regulations are making it more expensive to stay open. We must change the tide because our small business economy is too big to fail. Small businesses with employees comprise 94% of all companies in Congressional District Seven. There are almost 19,000 businesses in the Cape Fear Region alone, which includes New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, and Pender Counties. 

With a million things to worry about, politics is probably the last thing on your mind as a small business owner. However, the pandemic made it abundantly clear that we can’t afford to ignore our politicians and the decisions that they make. We need to become watchdogs and build coalitions to fight for legislation and regulations that protect small businesses. The good news is that we don’t have to fight alone. Here are seven ways your small business can have a big voice in government. 

1. Join one or more trade groups and business associations. These local organizations serve as our bridge to local and state government. These organizations vary in the scope of what they offer. Some associations are more networking-heavy, while others are focused on advocacy. Join groups that align with your interests, fit your budget, and are small business-focused. The Cape Fear Business Alliance (CFBA) offers members a balance of advocacy efforts, community networking, and education. 
2. Know the difference between municipal, county, and state governments. If your business is in the town or city limits you may work with the City Hall for permitting, zoning, local tax, and ordinance issues. County government deals with water, sewer, county taxes, permitting (if you’re outside city limits), deeds, court issues, and more. State government deals with legislation, state regulatory issues (if your business products or services are regulated), intrastate commerce, business formation, filing, and labor issues, just to name a few. Navigating state legislative and regulatory agencies can be cumbersome so the CFBA has a contract lobbyist to help small business owners with specific legislative or regulatory issues. Many trade associations have similar resources. 
3. Watch what your elected officials are voting on. You don’t have time to watch every city council or board meeting. Subscribe to a trade association email for updates on important votes and proposed legislation. Government websites also have email updates and previous meeting minutes posted. Local TV, print, and digital news will also publish stories about what goes on at municipal and county meetings. Get news from multiple sources since each news outlet will likely have a different spin on the same story. At the CFBA, we send out action alerts and legislative updates on what major local and state policies will affect small businesses. 
4. Get to know your elected officials. Politicians meet with policy staff and lobbyists every day. However, they always want to hear from small business owners in their district. Our municipal, county, and state representatives are our neighbors and are relatively accessible. They want to know what issues are impacting you the most. While policy-makers often rely on data and precedent in their decision-making, nothing beats the power of personal anecdotes from business owners. In the Cape Fear Region, we are fortunate to have powerful NC House and Senate members who chair key committees including appropriations, budget, and rules. Learn who sits on what committee since all proposed legislation is referred to a committee for hearings and bill markups. The CFBA for example hosts policy roundtables so business owners can meet their elected officials and learn more about new and proposed legislation. 
5. Meet the candidates running for office. There are always elections. Many municipal elections happen in odd-numbered years while mid-term and general elections are in even number years. County board elections occur every four years. NC House and Senate members are elected every two years. While more attention is paid to presidential and congressional races, our local and state leaders have much more of a direct impact on your business. Get to know a candidate’s background, and why they’re running, ask about their core issues or priorities once elected, and ask whether they are pro-business. If they are running for reelection, check their legislative scorecard. NCFREE publishes a business scorecard for every state legislator. Get your employees involved in the election process as well. Hold a voter registration drive at your office and post voting information, including polling locations and dates. This doesn’t have to be partisan, the key is that you can make an informed decision at the voting booth. 
6. Serve on a Board. Serving on a municipal, county, or state board is the best non-elected experience. Not only do you get to learn the inner workings of government, but you also meet lots of people. Some boards are advisory while others are quasi-judicial, meaning the rulings can be challenged in court. State board seats tend to be harder to get and require travel to Raleigh, however municipal and county boards often have ongoing vacancies and only require local travel to meetings, typically once a month. The city council and county commissioners appoint people to these boards.   
7. Propose a new law. How often have you said, “There ought to be a law?” Advocacy is about fighting for or against policy and the pinnacle of that process is to see your idea become law. If you have a situation at your business where there’s no apparent government solution, or the current law is restrictive, then it may be time to propose a new law or a policy change. It may even be a municipal ordinance. The policymaking process can include writing a letter to elected officials, speaking at a council or board meeting, proposing a draft bill to a legislator, and even providing testimony at a legislative committee hearing. This isn’t always easy and may take time (especially state legislation), but the outcome can help you and other business owners. Trade groups and associations, including the CFBA, will rally their members behind or against a bill or policy. There’s power in numbers! 

Advocacy is a secret weapon for any small business that doesn’t have to cost a lot of time or money but can yield positive results. The Cape Fear Business Alliance was formed because several business owners were fed up with government overreach during the pandemic, so they created a local network of other business owners who started paying attention to what our elected officials were voting on and made sure we elected candidates who believed in free markets, fewer regulations, lower taxes, and a government that supports small businesses. 

If you’re a business owner, an entrepreneur, or just passionate about supporting our small business community, then I invite you to join us. Learn more on our website and attend our next meeting. This is a great way to expand your business network and get involved in the local political process. It’s time for small business owners to start looking out for each other, hold our elected leaders accountable, and work to make the Cape Fear Region the best in the state for small businesses. 

Originally published in The Wilmington Conservative.