Supporting Arizona small businesses

The backbone of our economy, the heart of our community

Since kicking off my campaign, I’ve met with Arizonans to hear firsthand how I can best represent them in the Senate. I’ve spoken with everyone from farmers to health care workers and teachers to small business owners. As someone who helped start a business, I know how important they are to our communities and our state’s economy, and I know how state and federal policy can directly affect their bottom line. Small businesses are the backbone of Arizona’s economy — but Washington doesn’t always seem to get it.

The backbone of our economy

Arizona is home to over 500,000 small businesses and over 99% of Arizona’s businesses are considered “small.” These businesses employ almost half of Arizona’s private-sector workforce. However, the lasting impact of these small businesses on our economy extends beyond strengthening our workforce.

On one of my many small business tours during the course of this campaign, I met Kimber Lanning, owner of Stinkweeds Record Store in Phoenix. Kimber explained to me how small businesses help keep money in the local economy — by employing members of the nearby community and sourcing products from local vendors.

Small businesses contribute to our local economy by hiring other small businesses. If a local retail store needs contracting work done, they’re going to call a local contractor. If they need design work done, they’re going to hire a local designer. Small businesses help lift up other small businesses in the community, leading to more economic growth.

The heart of our community

Some local businesses go above and beyond to serve our community in other ways. Take Refuge Cafe for example — in addition to making a mean cup of coffee, this Phoenix cafe employs homeless veterans to give them the second chance that Washington failed to offer them. And their profits are used to support refugees, orphans, and victims of domestic abuse right here in Arizona. It was an honor to meet them earlier this campaign and learn about their work.

While visiting with folks in Flagstaff, I got to meet Jabarha “Kutt” Nichols, owner of Kuttz Barber Shop and College. Kutt has turned his barbershop into the unofficial community center for his neighborhood. He teaches barbers of all ages the craft to help give them a sense of financial independence, and then he teaches marketing and business skills so they can go on and grow their own businesses.

Or look at Silvana Salcido Esparza, owner and chef at Barrio Cafe. When the COVID-19 pandemic started shutting down local businesses, I gave Silvana a call to hear how her restaurant was holding up. She was proud to share with me that she had converted her restaurant into a volunteer kitchen to provide food and groceries to frontline workers and the homeless, following all the necessary safety criteria. Rather than turn a profit on takeout, she chose to share the food free of charge with those who need it the most in her community. That’s Arizonans for you — stepping up when things get tough.

Businesses like Refuge Cafe, Kuttz Barbershop, and Barrio Cafe aren’t just important to our economy, they’re about building stronger communities that we can be proud of and honoring Arizona’s legacy of working together to take care of each other, even in the hardest of times.

Supporting small businesses

Now, you might be asking: If small businesses are so important to our economy, then why aren’t there more of them? Well, the fact is small businesses face more obstacles when entering the marketplace. Most small businesses require a small line of credit to get started. Access to capital to rent or buy space, hire employees, and buy materials are all critical components to starting and growing a business. We need to continue reducing barriers to capital, including making the Small Business Administration more accessible and working with community banks and Community Development Financial Institutions to increase access in rural communities.

It’s also critical that Arizona invests in education and training for our workforce: both strengthening K-12 education and making college more affordable and investing in apprenticeships and skills training so young Arizonans can compete and fill jobs where they’re needed. The cost of health care has been a burden on Arizona families and businesses. Keeping up with the rising cost of employee health care can strain budgets and create tough choices. Reforms that drive down the cost of prescription drugs and create more options and competition in the insurance marketplace can benefit employers by reducing premiums and health care costs.

When the COVID-19 pandemic started in Arizona, I heard from too many small businesses who had to navigate a broken and inefficient system for relief funds only to wait weeks. Congress put much of the application process for small business relief in the hands of big banks, and the big banks put a lot of locally-owned businesses at the back of the line. Washington should have provided strong oversight from the beginning and needs to design programs with small and rural businesses in mind so funds get where they are most needed. We still aren’t through this crisis, small businesses are still struggling as the pandemic surges, so we’ve got to have their backs.

When I think of small businesses, I think of Bentley’s in Tucson where I like to start my day with an iced coffee and the morning paper. I think of Las Vigas restaurant in Nogales that catered mine and Gabby’s wedding and helped make the whole celebration even more Southern Arizona. Local businesses go that extra mile to truly make you feel like part of the community. And in Arizona, when someone in your community needs your help, you pitch in and you do what you can. It’s just how we do things around here.

Arizona small businesses need an independent voice in Washington that can push past the party politics in order to pass laws that make it easier for small businesses to thrive — not harder. I’m running for Senate to be that voice for Arizona, but we don’t have to wait until Election Day to start taking action. We can have the backs of small businesses by shopping local, so join our mission to support small businesses across Arizona today.