SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION SUPPORT
Big corporations get bailouts, tax breaks, and lobbyists. Small businesses get paperwork and “maybe next fiscal year.” But America’s real economic backbone isn’t hedge funds — it’s family shops, local makers, food carts, repair crews, indie developers, community builders, and garage inventors. Innovation shouldn’t require a venture capitalist — it should only require a good idea and a fair chance.
THE PROBLEM
80%+ of federal business support goes to large corporations, not local entrepreneurs.
Banks deny loans to small owners — especially first-timers, rural applicants, and minority founders.
Licensing rules are complex, fees stack up, and starting a small business often costs more in permits than in tools.
Innovation is treated like a Silicon Valley privilege — while real-world problem solvers in working communities go unfunded and unseen.
OUR PLAN - REAL INVESTMENT IN LOCAL BUILDERS
We will flip the system so support reaches people who actually create value on American streets, not just in boardrooms:
Micro-Grants & Fast-Track Funding — $1k–$25k startup grants with same-month approval, designed for food carts, tech tinkerers, mobile services, repair shops, community goods, and more.
One-Stop Local Business Hubs — Replace 6 different offices and forms with a single local gateway: “Start your business here — all paperwork done in one place.”
License Fee Relief for First-Time Founders — Cap or waive early-stage licensing costs to help new entrepreneurs get to revenue before drowning in fees.
Local Mentor & Peer Networks — Connect new business owners to retired tradespeople, professionals, and skilled community members for real-world guidance, not just brochures.
Community Co-Op Support Programs — Help workers create co-owned businesses, spreading profit across neighborhoods instead of extracting it.
Federal Procurement for Small Shops — Set aside a percentage of government contracts specifically for small, local suppliers, not just giant firms.
WHY IT MATTERS
When one small business opens, an entire community gets stronger — employment rises, neighborhoods stabilize, young people see opportunity close to home, and wealth stays local. America doesn’t just need big companies — it needs millions of small ones.
“Wall Street doesn’t build communities — Main Street does.”