Ben Brubeck’s Post

Yesterday, I joined dozens of small business advocates at a press conference outside the U.S. Capitol with Congressman Brad Finstad (R-MN) to support his bipartisan bill authorizing a White House Conference on Small Business (H.R. 6855). The last time our nation convened such a conference was in 1995—well before today’s challenges for small businesses took shape. I was proud to speak on behalf of Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. - IEC, a #construction trade association representing more than 4,000 merit shop electrical contractors and 50 chapters across the country (and a great Government Affairs Solutions, LLC client). IEC’s members—like much of the construction industry and members of my four construction trade association clients—are overwhelmingly small businesses, and it’s long past time their voices are elevated in shaping federal policy. The numbers from the U.S. Small Business Administration - Office of Advocacy tell the construction industry’s story: - Nearly 81% of the construction workforce is employed by small businesses. - 99% of construction firms have fewer than 100 employees. - 82% of construction firms have fewer than 10 employees. Construction IS small business. These brave entrepreneurs are building and electrifying America every day. With 22,000 registered apprentices in IEC's #apprenticeship programs, small businesses are also building tomorrow's #workforce by providing a pipeline for #electricians to pursue a rewarding career in the skilled trades and future small business entrepreneurship. Yet bad government policy favors well-connected special interests and large businesses while strangling small business growth with red tape. A White House Conference on Small Business would provide a long-overdue platform to elevate small business priorities, inform policymakers, and ensure that federal policies support growth, workforce development, and economic opportunity. Proud to advocate for IEC small businesses and other #smallbusiness stakeholders in support of this legislation. Shoutouts to John Byrd for organizing this excellent event and Chris Vaughan for the photo. Also kudos to Danny Shaw with Kato Roofing for his excellent remarks as a Minnesota constituent and member of Associated Builders and Contractors.