National Federation of Independent Business

Beer Institute Names Andrew Heritage as Chief Economist

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Beer Institute, the oldest national trade organization representing the beer industry, announced it named Andrew Heritage as chief economist.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Nov. 06, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the Beer Institute, the oldest national trade organization representing the beer industry, announced it named Andrew Heritage as chief economist.
  • “I’m excited to bring together my love for beer and economics as I lead the Beer Institute’s research efforts and help tell the story of this wonderful beverage," said Andrew Heritage.
  • “Andrew's deep and relevant experience will be instrumental in allowing the Beer Institute to continue to provide best-in-class insights and consumer trends for our members and drive results for the beer industry.”
    Before joining the Beer Institute, Heritage was senior economist at the Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA), lead economist at Thumbtack, and a senior policy analyst at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
  • For additional updates from the Beer Institute, visit our website , follow @BeerInstitute on Twitter, like the Beer Institute on Facebook , and follow the Beer Institute on Instagram .

Health Benefits Startup StretchDollar Announces Launch and $1.6M Pre-Seed Funding

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 26, 2023

StretchDollar , a startup that enables small employers to provide pre-tax funding to employee-owned health insurance, has announced its launch in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Colorado.

Key Points: 
  • StretchDollar , a startup that enables small employers to provide pre-tax funding to employee-owned health insurance, has announced its launch in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Colorado.
  • More than 60 percent of the 5 million U.S. small businesses with less than ten employees do not offer health benefits, a historic low.
  • “Smaller-sized businesses are often stuck choosing a one-size-fits-all health plan and being the go-between for employee health insurance questions,” explained Kaiza Molina , StretchDollar co-founder and chief operating officer.
  • It's a win-win.”
    Before co-founding StretchDollar in March 2023, Marshall and Kaiza helped launch and grow health insurance startup, Decent .

Worker Productivity in the U.S. Is at an All-Time Low: Who or What Is To Blame?

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 5, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO, June 5, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Once a pandemic-driven necessity, working from home has become a coveted fringe benefit for the fortunate few who, as it turned out, don't really need to be in the office to get the job done. Pre-COVID, roughly 7% of the U.S. workforce did their jobs from home. At the height of the pandemic, 55% of those lucky enough to still have a job worked from home. In 2023, the percentage has dropped to 35%, still seven times pre-pandemic numbers.(1) Perhaps not coincidentally, worker productivity is dropping at the fastest rate in 75 years, with five consecutive quarters of year-over-year decline, a phenomenon that hasn't happened since 1948, post-WWII.(2) The grim trifecta of labor shortages, inflation, and an imminent recession has most certainly put pressure on small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to reimagine their current business practices to weather the storm. Mikel Lindsaar, CEO and Founder of StoreConnect, proposes that "SMBs who invest in cost-and time-saving technology can overcome the current workforce and economic slumps and turn negative circumstances into positive outcomes."

Key Points: 
  • But there are other persistent challenges contributing to decreased productivity, and SMBs are in the crosshairs of another recession.
  • At the height of the pandemic, 55% of those lucky enough to still have a job worked from home.
  • (1) Perhaps not coincidentally, worker productivity is dropping at the fastest rate in 75 years, with five consecutive quarters of year-over-year decline, a phenomenon that hasn't happened since 1948, post-WWII.
  • Microsoft and Citrix conducted surveys of people in managerial roles to measure their level of confidence in the productivity of their remote workers.

Coalition for Convenient Sales Launches to Advocate For Modernization of Pennsylvania's Liquor Laws

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new alliance of trade associations, retailers, business owners and individual consumers, Coalition for Convenient Sales, is advocating to expand access to spirits-based ready-to-drink products. Coalition members include Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Distilled Spirits Council, and National Federation of Independent Business.

Key Points: 
  • Coalition members include Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, Distilled Spirits Council, and National Federation of Independent Business.
  • "We are pleased to announce the formation of the Coalition for Convenient Sales," said Alex Baloga, President and CEO of Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association.
  • "It's long past time to change the liquor laws and give Pennsylvanians the convenience they want and deserve, and we will all be pulling together to get this done."
  • "The public very clearly wants a modernized, convenient system that keeps alcohol sales safe while making it more convenient for consumers."

Small businesses seek to avoid possible credit crunch as Federal Reserve raises rates once more

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Small businesses – the heartbeat of the U.S. economy – are beginning to feel the pinch of tighter credit conditions as the Federal Reserve continues to increase borrowing costs.

Key Points: 
  • Small businesses – the heartbeat of the U.S. economy – are beginning to feel the pinch of tighter credit conditions as the Federal Reserve continues to increase borrowing costs.
  • A flurry of headlines in recent weeks has suggested a credit crunch – meaning the availability of lending gets scarcer – is already happening.
  • Concerns about the availability of credit have also risen as a result of a spate of bank failures, including that of First Republic on May 1.

Small but mighty

    • Despite their size, small businesses – typically defined as companies with under 500 employees – are a very important part of the U.S. economy.
    • And virtually all for-profit companies are considered small businesses.
    • Small businesses don’t borrow a lot of money, with the average size of their debt just US$195,000.
    • The last time small businesses faced similar financing challenges was during the 2008 financial crisis, when 1.8 million small businesses failed.

Signs of credit tightening

    • Whether or not the current banking turmoil is creating a serious credit crunch for small businesses remains an open question.
    • And the share of U.S. banks that say they’re tightening credit standards versus loosening them is at a level that has preceded the past few recessions.
    • In those cases, credit tightening may very well have been the consequence of the downturn, as opposed to the cause.
    • This tightening of credit could lead to decreased capital expenditures and slower payroll growth in the future.

Room for optimism

    • On the bright side, companies have been bracing for reduced access to credit since at least March 2022, when the Fed began raising rates.
    • What’s more, they’ve been anticipating that higher rates could drive the U.S. into recession.
    • That means they should have had plenty of time to prepare to weather most potential storms.

Small businesses seek to avoid possible credit crunch as Federal Reserve prepares to raise rates once more

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Small businesses – the heartbeat of the U.S. economy – are beginning to feel the pinch of tighter credit conditions as the Federal Reserve continues to increase borrowing costs.

Key Points: 
  • Small businesses – the heartbeat of the U.S. economy – are beginning to feel the pinch of tighter credit conditions as the Federal Reserve continues to increase borrowing costs.
  • A flurry of headlines in recent weeks has suggested a credit crunch – meaning the availability of lending gets scarcer – is already happening.
  • A decline in the availability of loans and other financing poses problems for all types of companies.

Small but mighty

    • Despite their size, small businesses – typically defined as a company with under 500 employees – are a very important part of the U.S. economy.
    • And virtually all for-profit companies are considered small businesses.
    • Small businesses don’t borrow a lot of money, with the average size of their debt just US$195,000.
    • The last time small businesses faced similar financing challenges was during the 2008 financial crisis, when 1.8 million small businesses failed.

Signs of credit tightening

    • Whether or not the current banking turmoil is creating a serious credit crunch for small businesses remains an open question.
    • And the share of U.S. banks that say they’re tightening credit standards versus loosening them is at a level that has preceded the last few recessions.
    • In those cases, credit tightening may very well have been the consequence of the downturn, as opposed to the cause.
    • This tightening of credit could lead to decreased capital expenditures and slower payroll growth in the future.

Room for optimism

    • On the bright side, companies have been bracing for reduced access to credit since at least March 2022 when the Fed began raising rates.
    • What’s more, they’ve been anticipating that higher rates could drive the U.S. into recession.
    • That means they should have had plenty of time to prepare to weather most potential storms.

Californians Against Retail And Residential Theft and California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce Hold Retail Theft Forum

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT) joined the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and others in a retail theft forum.

Key Points: 
  • Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft (CARRT) joined the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce and others in a retail theft forum.
  • The coalition includes local Chambers of Commerce, California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce, California Business Roundtable, California Black Chamber of Commerce, California Grocers Association, Crime Victims United, Klass Kids Foundation, and National Federation of Independent Business.
  • The California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce is the leading regional Hispanic and ethnic business organization in the Nation.
  • For more information about the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, please visit the website at www.cahcc.com .

Biz2Credit to Host Oct. 13 Online Forum Examining the Future for Small Businesses with Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY)

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 10, 2022

NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biz2Credit will host an online panel featuring U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) entitled Examining the Future for Small Businesses on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 12 p.m. (EDT).

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Oct. 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biz2Credit will host an online panel featuring U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) entitled Examining the Future for Small Businesses on Thursday, Oct. 13, at 12 p.m. (EDT).
  • The virtual forum will explore topics including:
    Biz2Credits annual Latino-Owned Business Study for 2022 , and other topics.
  • U.S. Rep Ritchie Torres, of New Yorks 15th Congressional District in the Bronx, serves on the House Committees on Financial Services and Homeland Security.
  • Now serving his first term in Congress, Rep. Garbarino was recently awarded the National Federation of Independent Businesses Guardian of Small Business Award in September 2022.

Accomplished Attorney and Veteran Small Business Legal Advocate Karen Harned Joins Job Creators Network Foundation to Lead Legal Action Fund

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 6, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Job Creators Network Foundation (JCNF) announced Karen Harned has joined the organization to serve as Chief Legal Officer of its Legal Action Fund (LAF). Ms. Harned is an accomplished attorney, twenty-year legal advocate for small businesses, and former National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Legal Center executive.

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, Sept. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Job Creators Network Foundation (JCNF) announced Karen Harned has joined the organization to serve as Chief Legal Officer of its Legal Action Fund (LAF).
  • Ms. Harned is an accomplished attorney, twenty-year legal advocate for small businesses, and former National Federation of Independent Businesses Small Business Legal Center executive.
  • Ms. Harned's first effort will be to lead the LAF's challenge of the Biden administration's illegal student loan bailout.
  • In her role, Ms. Harned will lead JCNF's legal strategy to hold government officials accountable for executive overreach and abuses of administrative power that harm small businesses.

Raleigh Entrepreneur and Advocate Honored with Woman Business Owner of the Year Award

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, August 24, 2022

RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Raleigh presented long-time member, Olalah Njenga, CEO of YellowWood Group, with the Woman Business Owner of the Year Award during its annual board installation and awards gala. Greater Raleigh's Immediate Past President, Emily Parks, presented Njenga with the honor.

Key Points: 
  • The National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Raleigh awarded business leader and small business economy advocate, Olalah Njenga, with the 2021-2022 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award in recognition of her achievements and advocacy efforts
    RALEIGH, N.C., Aug. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Women Business Owners Greater Raleigh presented long-time member, Olalah Njenga, CEO of YellowWood Group, with the Woman Business Owner of the Year Award during its annual board installation and awards gala.
  • The Woman Business Owner of the Year Award recognized Njenga for achievements reflecting the influence, inspiration, and impact of her work as a business owner and her life as an unwitting role model through the challenges she has overcome and the opportunities she has provided.
  • The firm partners with business leaders to transform ideas into objectives and objectives into outcomes.
  • The National Association of Women Business Owners ' mission is to propel women business owners into greater economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide.