Small business enterprises are often referred to as the backbone of our economy. While this phrase recognizes their collective economic impact, it can sometimes overlook another crucial aspect of small business: their voice in business advocacy. As someone who has worked closely with businesses of all sizes during my time at the Tucson Metro Chamber, I've witnessed firsthand how small business perspectives can transform policy conversations when properly amplified.

Small businesses bring unique insights to advocacy efforts. Their owners and operators navigate regulatory challenges without the buffer of specialized compliance departments. They feel market shifts both deeply and immediately, not after quarterly reports. They implement new mandates with limited resources and often at personal financial risk. This proximity to both the challenges and opportunities of the market makes their input invaluable to creating balanced, workable policies.

In Arizona specifically, the importance of small business cannot be overstated—97.3% of businesses in our state employ fewer than 20 employees. This striking statistic underscores why small business engagement is not just beneficial but essential for developing policies that reflect economic realities on the ground.

Nowhere is this engagement more critical than in addressing workforce challenges. Small businesses experience talent shortages and skills gaps with particular intensity, often competing for the same talent pool as larger employers but with fewer resources. Yet their intimate knowledge of local labor markets and specific skill needs makes them invaluable partners in designing effective workforce solutions. When small businesses actively participate in workforce development initiatives, the results better serve businesses, job seekers, and the economy.

Yet despite representing over 99% of all businesses nationally and employing nearly half of the private workforce, small businesses face disproportionate obstacles in making their voices heard. Time constraints, limited resources, and lack of connections to decision-makers all contribute to this advocacy gap. This is precisely why chambers and business associations play such a vital role—they are able to aggregate and amplify these voices that might otherwise go unheard. This challenge and opportunity is being faced all over our country right now in solving workforce challenges.

When small businesses engage in advocacy, the results can be profound. Policies become more practical and implementation timelines more realistic. Unintended consequences are identified earlier. Perhaps most importantly, the resulting regulatory environment becomes more conducive to business formation and growth—the very engines of job creation and innovation.

In my years in workforce development, I've observed that the most effective policy discussions occur when businesses of different sizes participate. Large corporations bring scale and research capacity, while small businesses contribute operational reality and entrepreneurial perspective. Together, they create a more complete picture of our economic landscape.

For small business owners reading this, I encourage you to recognize the power of your voice. Join one of the Chamber’s Public Policy subcommittees, share your experiences, and make a difference. Because what may seem like an ordinary business challenge to you may actually represent a critical insight for those shaping our business environment.

The future of effective business advocacy depends on ensuring that small business perspectives remain central to the conversation. Their voice isn't just important—it's essential to building a Pima County economy that works for businesses of all sizes while creating a workforce community that thrives!

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Author: Frank Velásquez Jr. 

*Formerly with The Tucson Metro Chamber*

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