FRISCO, Colo., August 5, 2024 – The Small Business Majority, a prominent business advocacy group, selected local entrepreneur Nora Gilbertson, founder of StayLoci, to attend the Southwest Regional Business Briefing at the White House on July 24th and 25th. This event brought together 30 entrepreneurs from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah, organized by advocacy groups such as Small Business Majority, The Main Street Alliance, and National Women-Owned Business.
The morning sessions featured briefings from Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Guzman, White House Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta, and U.S. Department of Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo. A panel of resources from the Small Business Administration also provided valuable insights. Topics included deployment of capital to small community lenders, increasing access to childcare, natural disaster preparedness and recovery and cyber-security, in addition to the other issues facing small businesses.
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Following the briefings, Nora, along with three other entrepreneurs and representatives from Small Business Majority, met with the offices of Senator Bennet (CO), Senator Lujan (NM), and Senator Heinrich (NM) to advocate for the needs of small business owners. Senate staff expressed their appreciation for the candid conversations and emphasized their commitment to understanding the impact of administrative decisions on their constituents. Efforts are underway to reduce the administrative burden associated with accessing programs designed to support businesses.
In preparation for the visit, Nora collaborated with small business groups in Summit County, including the Summit County Chamber of Commerce, the Summit Economic Partnership, and StartUp Colorado. Together, they identified the unique needs of small businesses and startups in the high country. These needs were then shared with the offices of Congressman Joe Neguse, Colorado State Senator Dylan Roberts, and Colorado State Representative Julie McCluskie. The representatives provided valuable insights into policies and agendas aimed at fostering economic development in Colorado and listened attentively to the challenges faced by local small businesses and startups.
“Small businesses account for over half of the jobs in the U.S. The Southwest Regional Business Briefing and Senate visits reassured me that there are significant efforts underway to support the small businesses that drive our economy, and these efforts have a direct impact on our local community,” said Gilbertson.“Every Main Street in Summit County is thriving with incredible local small business owners who contribute to the vitality of our community. Meanwhile, there’s a lot of innovation happening in rural Colorado, with new startups emerging in Summit County. These entrepreneurs are deeply committed to this community and are working to diversify business and create year-round middle-wage jobs to balance out the seasonal fluctuations common in tourism-based economies. Startups in rural Colorado often face greater challenges in accessing resources, and I am grateful for the efforts being made from local to federal levels to make these resources more accessible.”
Organizations like the Summit Chamber of Commerce, the Summit Economic Partnership, and StartUp Colorado are dedicated to funneling pertinent information and resources to new and existing businesses. They provide essential support to entrepreneurs, helping them start and grow their businesses, and reminding them that they are not alone. Mentors and advisors are encouraged to get involved and support these efforts.
The Summit County Chamber of Commerce, the Summit Economic Partnership and the Ramada by Wyndham Frisco supported this trip, ensuring that Summit County and rural Colorado were well represented in Washington DC.
