Main Street Wants Lawmakers to Act Swiftly and Pass a Sensible Budget to Avoid Government Shutdown 

September 28, 2023 

The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the House

U.S. House of Representatives 2468 Rayburn House Office Building. Washington, DC 20515. United States

The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader
U.S. House of Representatives 2433 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC, 20515

The Honorable Charles E. Schumer, Senate Majority Leader
322 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Senate Republican Leader
U.S Senate 317 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510

Dear Speaker McCarthy, House Democratic Leader Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, and Senate Republican Leader McConnell: 

We are writing to you with deep concern about the impending threat to our nation's economy as the federal budget deadline draws near. A government shutdown is not just a mere administrative inconvenience—it represents a real and immediate threat to the lifeblood of our economy: small businesses.

As small business owners, we have witnessed our economy's resilience and growth, marked by the cooling of inflation, a strong job market, and near-record low unemployment. We've also experienced record small business growth with 10.5 million new starts in the past year. They will need stability in order to thrive during the often challenging first years of business. That security is also needed for the health of established businesses who are now stable after intense turbulence at the start of the pandemic.

Recent data from a Small Business for America's Future survey highlights our concern: 78% of surveyed small business owners believe a shutdown would negatively impact Main Street businesses. We know of the consequences of government shutdowns, many of us have had to take out lines of credit to pay employees during past budget impasses and others anticipate having to halt operations because of a lack of cash flow. Disrupting the government will also affect an already tight credit market. The Small Business Administration won't be able to accept, review or approve loans that would offer a line during this disruption, affecting the growth and sustainability of our businesses. 

In addition, the federal workforce is enormous. There are millions of employees across the country, who are also small business customers. When they feel financially insecure, they tighten their spending, which means less money flowing into small business coffers.

We implore lawmakers to take the government shutdown seriously and act swiftly to avert it. The aspirations of many entrepreneurs and the continued growth of our nation's economy are deeply intertwined with this important step.

Sincerely, 

Small Business for America’s Future 

Small Business Owners
Alvin Adamcik, Ni Cable Company, Katy, TX

Adedoyin Adeeko, Ages Eock and Associates Corp. , Jamaica, NY

Sherman Adkins, RCG Behavioral Health Network, Richmond, VA

Farid Ahmed, GEM Tox Labs, Greenville, NC

Allison Allain, PCI Builders, Monrovia, CA

Wilmer Arroyo Alvarado, Khronos Corporation, Aguadilla, PR

Muneer Baig, SYSUSA, INC., Manassas, VA

Ethelyn Barksdale, Barksdale, College Park , GA

Roger Beaulieu, Bld Hospitality LLC, Yarmouth, Me

Marcos Bermeo, 12T Group LLC, Verona, NJ

Dyann Berndt, Dyann L. Berndt, CSR, RPR, Berwyn, IL

Karri Blackmon, Habitat Assessment and Restoration Program, Inc., Lexington , NC

Gregory Breyfogle, Oasis Bar and Grill, Walnut Grove, MN

Daphne Bridges, Faith Enterprise Incorporated, Mint Hill, NC

Jeni Britton, Jeni's Ice Creams, Columbus, OH

Janet Brugger, JBrugger Consulting, LLC, Colorado Springs, CO

Michael Bryant, AIR802, Oswego, IL

Mark Bryant, Floortex Integrated LLC, Kernsville, NC

James Bryant, Virginia Storage Systems Inc, Chesapeake, VA

Eric Buchanan, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, Omaha, NE

Tess Cahigas, Seniors 2000 Health and Activities Center, San Antonio, TX

Nelson Calzadilla, Tecma Customs Brokers, El Paso, TX

Roger Campos, Minority Business RoundTable, Washington, DC

Cynthia Carley, Carley and Company, San Francisco, CA

Hannah Carter, The Law Office of Hannah Carter, Chesapeake, VA

Christopher Casteel, Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics, llc, Detroit, MI

Donna Chappel, Advanced Integration Group, Inc., McKees Rocks, PA

Christine Chin Ryan, Synergy Consulting, Inc., Sandy, OR

Jean Cooper, Cooper Business Service LLC, Stow, OH

Diesha Cooper, Diesha Cooper Enterprises, LLC, Washington Boro, PA

LaMisha Corley, Corley Property and Services LLC, Waterbury, CT

Mary Crockhom, M&R Medical Supply, Dallas, TX

Sandra Curley, Supreme Company Wholesaler of Books Inc, Lafayette, LA

Ginger Davis, Heartland CPR, Oklahoma City, OK

Pamela de Liz, Ziled Group/ ZO-EX, Santa Monica, CA

Roland Dixon, Special Power Sources, Alliance, OH

Laurie Dowling, The Dowling-Woo Company, Los Angeles, CA

Sanjyot Dunung, Atma Global, New York, NY

Gloria Durham, Connections Management Group LLC , Roselle, NJ

Johnnie Edmundson, All Purpose Supply, Pompano Beach, FL

Kenneth Ekechukwu, K & B Training Institute, El Paso, TX

Patricia Emblem, Grant Funding Strategies, Phoenix, AZ

Alethea Etinoff, POC Learning Academy LLC, Washington, DC

Donna Everage, Self Employed, Chester, VA

Marja Farrow, Farrow Group, Detroit, MI

Conchie Fernandez, CF Creative, Pompano Beach, FL

Ferncrest Enterprises LLC, Andrews, NC

Karin Flagle, Blue Ridge Insurance Services, Inc., Harrisonburg, VA

Tiara Flynn, Sumnu Marketing, Las Vegas, NV

Andreas Fuchs, Vassar Theatre Management LLC, Vassar, MI

Tinna Gervais, Rocky Sayso, Lowell, MA

Katrina Golden, Lil Mama's Sweets and Treats, Augusta, GA

Dr. Erika Gonzalez, South Texas Allergy and Asthma Medical Professionals (STAAMP), San Antonio , TX

Todd Greenberg, Budget Blinds, Pound Ridge, NY

Daniel Gregory, Available Power, LLC, Fort Collins, CO

Daniel Guerra Jr, Altus, Madison, WI

Patrick Hall, Elan Flowers, New York, NY

Kimberly Hall, BT Metals, Eureka, CA

Todd Hamblin, Global Aerospace Design Corp, Cincinnati, OH

BJ Handal, Self Employed, New York, NY

Jason Hawkins, Hawkins Insurance Agency, Acworth, GA

Sally Holcomb, Cafe Roka, Bisbee, AZ

Thomas Hunnicutt, WNC Moving and Storage, Asheville, NC

Ragine Hyppolite, Soar Educational Services, Loganville, GA

Deborah Isaac, Self Employed, Greensboro, NC

De Lorenco L Jackson, Damajha Systems, Fargo, ND

William Jackson, Success Staging International, LLC, Evans, GA

Victoria Jackson, Self Employed, Houston, TX

Stephanie Johnson, Simmons-Johnson Consulting LLC, Richmond, TX

Stephanye Johnson, Trinity Empowerment Consortium, Inc., Miami, FL

Jessica Johnson-Cope, Self Employed, Brooklyn, NY

Ronald Joiner, R&J Consulting Group, LLC, Washington, DC

Robyn Jolson-Engels, Helco Industries The Perfume People LLC, Randallstown, MD

Jenny Jones, InfoSurf Consulting, North Bend, OR

Shana Kemp, Greene Street Communications, Beltsville, MD

Rebecca Koontz, Bush Crane, Inc., Morrisville, NY

Brandon Korman, The BDK Management Group Inc, Leland, NC

Sharon Kotsonas, OneSource Shipping & Printing, Gilbert, AZ

Victor Krawinkel, Renovated House Krawinkel corp, West Hazleton, PA

Jeff Lamm, Lamm Properties Inc, Tampa, FL

Michael Larson, Larson Farms Partnership, Ephraim, UT

Cara Lashley, AKEA, Inc., Gainesville, FL

John Leano, The Techsperts, Aiea, HI

Grandpa David Leopold, Dreaming With Entrepreneurs LLC, Cincinnati, OH

Dottie Li, TransPacific Communications, Columbia, MD

Kaliah Ligon, Bankable, Anderson, IN

Jordan Madore, Vapor Valley, Grand Prairie, TX

Lois A. Mahone, ExClusive Hair and Skin Salon, Homestead, PA

Donald Marette, Occum Health LLC, Cape Charles, VA

Alex Marron, RNW Energy Systems Corp, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Anthony Marshall, ISG, Raleigh, NC

Connie Mazur, CyberVillage Networkers, Inc., Ellicott City, MD
Patricia McKinley, KHAVL Transport, LLC. Phoenix, AZ

Andrew McManus, MEDP LLC, Bridgewater, VA

Marcella Medor, MarCom, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID

Daniel Mellon Sr, Mellon Mechanical Inc, Jenkintown, PA

Mike Menahem, Govbidpro Inc., Las Vegas, NV

Adrianne Mickens, The Fitting Room, Washington, DC

Robert Mills, REM Strategies LLC., Rehoboth Beach, DE

Rita Mitchell, MS SBDC, Hattiesburg, MS

Mark Morales, Charles Jacobsen, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Patrick Mulvaney, Mulvaneys b&l, Sacramento, CA

Greg Myers, Midwest Environmental Consulting L.L.C, Mora, MN

Terry Nardone, Quad-E Enterprises, Hammondsport, NY

Lynn Neal, LA Neal Consulting, LLC, Flagstaff, AZ

Dr. Eric D. Nelson, Eric D. Nelson Agency, LLC, Aurora, CO

Shaundell Newsome, Sumnu Marketing, Las Vegas, NV

Thomas O'Donnell, Freedom Systems Corp., Eagleville, PA

Mark Olinger, The Big Bear Group, LLC, Mount Vernon , TX

Eddie Oliver, Financial Accounting Innovations LLC, Columbus, OH

John Oluwaleye, Tude & Fuwa International Ventures, Detroit, MI

Rossie Ortiz, SAT Energy Inc, San Antonio, TX

Jason Palmer, Self Employed, Huntington, NY

Edson Pap, Southwick Social Ventures LTD, Lynnfield, MA

Rod Parks, Parks Old Style Bar B Q, Inc., Detroit, MI

Cynthia Parsons, EIR, Leesburg, VA

Rama K Paruchuri, DataHash LLC, Ann Arbor, MI

Jacob Plummer, The Plummer Group, LLC, Spotsylvania, VA

Edna Posada, Aldani, Inc, Mcallen, TX

Peter Pronko, Proper Time, Fort Collins, CO

Ying Pu, Erie Chinese Journal. Inc, Cleveland, OH

Hugo Ramirez rIvas, Frio Mexican Treats, Appleton, WI

Musharaf Rashid, Wintrio LLC, Leesburg, VA

Karen Rea, RREMC Restaurants LLC, West Palm Beach, FL

Joe Reddix, The Reddix Group, Hanover, MD

Joel Redeker, JHR Financial Consulting LLC, Holland, MI

Anita Roberson, Botanical Bites & Provisions, LLC, Fredericksburg, VA

Kimber Roche, RYE-Always Fresh, Goldsboro, NC

Janna Rodriguez, The Innovative Daycare Corp, Freeport, NY

Richard Ross, Rich Life Moguls ,LLC, Locust Grove, GA

Walter Rowen, Susquehanna Glass Co., Lancaster, PA

Milissa Santos, Eagle Staffing Company, Philadelphia, PA

CJ Scarlet, CJ Scarlet LLC, DBA Badass Grandma Ventures, Clayton, NC

Alyson Segawa, Eliasan Consulting, LLC, Seattle, WA

La'Tonia Mertica Sheppard Walker, LM 'Comms & Creas Spec', Syracuse, NY

Nicholas Sicora, Disaster and Disability Consultants LLC, Monroe Township, NJ

Lisa Smith, The Coaching Center for MindTraining and Success, Virginia Beach, VA

Dave Smith, Senior Express Transportation, Columbia, SC

Cortez Smith, J & B Janitorial Service LLC, Greenville, NC

Frank Spillers, Rural Community Solutions, Atlantic, IA

Susanne Stantley, BE Group, Inc. , Chicago , IL

Nicholas Stevens, Dalmar Energy Solutions LLC, Plainfield, NY

Richard Stone, SamRos Enterprises, Inc, WAYNESBORO, GA

Nancy Swift, Jefferson Economic Development Institute (JEDI), Mount Shasta, CA

Deborah Thompson, Deborah K. Thompson, Consultants, Jacksonville, FL

Scott Tillitt, BEAHIVE, Beacon, NY

Mas Torito, Kokoro Restaurant, Westminster, CO

Dawn Tucker, Lord and Tucker Management Consultants, LLC, Huntingtown, MD

Marvin Vasquez, Self Employed, Irving, TX

David Ward, Safe Site Check In LLC, Portland, OR

Ronald Washington, Health-Tech Institute of Memphis, Memphis, TN

D Wawryck, Biltmore Gardens Design, Miami, FL

Jan Whitaker- Gatewood , Jan's Book-Writing Services, Bossier City, LA

Willie Willams, Self Employed, Miami, FL

Jocquett Williams, Jocquett’s Kiddie Palace, Houston, TX

Steven Williams, Atlanta Outsourced Service Professionals, Powder Springs, GA

Deb Wilson, D and S Wilson Enterprises LLC, Gardnerville, NV

Nelson Wilson, Gator Engineering & Aquifer Restoration, Inc., Longwood, FL

Bonnie Yough, Tonatco Cryogenic Services, Inc., Spring, TX

Bradley Young, Triple Y LLC, Liverpool, NY

Magaly Zavala Villa, Zavala Mushrooms Inc, Oxford, PA

Anne Zimmerman , Zimmerman & Co CPAs, Cincinnati, OH

Small Business Organizations 
California Association For Micro Enterprise Opportunity (CAMEO)
CDC Small Business Finance
El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Greater North Carolina Black Chamber of Commerce 

Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Mississippi Small Business Development Center

National Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association

National Small Business Network

Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce

Oberlin Business Partnership
UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce
Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC)