The Local Business Institute (LBI) practices advocacy for small, local businesses by collaborating with other national partners. There are many fine organizations doing stellar policy work on behalf of small business. Rather than duplicate what’s already being done, and done well, we choose to lend our voice to existing advocacy collaborators. We have recently added our name and voice to the following campaigns.

If your head is spinning with the technicalities of policy, so is ours! But we do this so you don’t have to. And we are always Vocal for Local.

Small Business Rising

Along with the Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR), Small Business Rising (SBR) continues work on antimonopoly and antitrust issues. SBR is urging the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to prioritize reviving enforcement against monopoly harms to small businesses, instead of focusing efforts toward eliminating regulatory barriers. READ MORE

Fair Competition for Small Business Act

We also added our signature as a member of SBR in support the bicameral introduction in Congress of the Fair Competition for Small Business Act, sponsored by Senator Booker (NJ) and Representative Waters (CA).

Antitrust Budget Cuts

LBI supported an initiative from our fellow SBR member, the National Grocers Association, addressing the Administration’s proposed antitrust budget/staffing cuts for the FTC and DOJ. 

Credit Card Swipe Fee Regulation

We joined with other SBR members to support changes to credit card swipe fees for small business. READ MORE

Small Business Majority

LBI signed on to an initiative to protect affordable healthcare for small businesses and extend ACA tax credits used by so many small businesses.

“On behalf of Small Business Majority, the undersigned state and national organizations and small business owners from across the country, we urge Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs) which are claimed by nearly 3 million small business owners and have been critical in lowering out-of-pocket healthcare costs for millions of individuals enrolled in the Marketplace, including small business owners, self-employed entrepreneurs, and small business employees. If Congress fails to act, millions of individuals will see their monthly premium costs skyrocket overnight, leading to an estimated loss of coverage for more than 4 million Americans. 

We call upon Congress to support our nation’s small business community by ensuring that our nation’s job creators have the opportunity to access quality and affordable healthcare options. Healthy businesses are sustainable businesses, and without support from Congress, our business community will pay unimaginable debts to an already broken healthcare system…”