Affecting State and Local Public Policy on Behalf of Microenterpreneurs
Microenterprise organizations look to the SMA to advocate on behalf of their clients. This vital advocacy effort has a different focus than public policy work on behalf of the microenterprise field because it directly improves the environment for low and moderate income individuals starting and operating small businesses. Examples of these advocacy efforts include:
- Removal of restrictive asset limits in public benefit programs
- Addition of entrepreneurship as an eligible work activity when collecting unemployment benefits, welfare benefits or SSI.
- Enactment of a state Earned Income Tax Credit
Advocacy on behalf of microentrepreneurs is also a good strategy for SMAs that need to first educate the public about the value of microentrepreneurship before launching a wider public policy effort for funding of microenterprise development. This advocacy work also helps build partnerships with diverse coalitions and provides opportunities for microentrepreneurs to participate in public policy efforts.
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