NFIB Archives - Tennessee Star

Ohio Legislative Committee Approves Universal License Recognition Bill

December 14, 2022December 13, 2022 Bradley Vasoli

Advocates for occupational licensing reform successfully urged an Ohio House panel on Tuesday to unanimously pass a Senate bill to recognize professional certifications awarded by other states.

Eighteen states, varied in their politics and geography, already recognize out-of-state licenses for most professions, including neighboring Pennsylvania. These universal-recognition laws all require the licensee to have current permission to work in his or her state and have no pending professional disciplinary matters or disqualifying criminal records. Licensees remain subject to any fees or testing required by their adopted states.

Maricopa County Approves New Program to Give Small Businesses a Larger Share of Its Business

October 12, 2022October 11, 2022 Neil Jones

Maricopa County announced Monday that the Board of Supervisors approved a new Small Business Advocacy Program (SBAP), which aims to provide these local enterprises with a larger share of county business.

“The program is about making sure that small and local businesses are being given a chance to sell goods and services to the county. The county buys everything from baby diapers to xenon light bulbs, we buy dentists and landscapers, plumbers and engineers – you name it – we probably buy it. It is a Board priority to support small and local businesses, when it makes sense, for purchases that are under $100,000 and not covered under an existing contract,” said the Maricopa County Office of Procurement (MCOP) in an email to the Arizona Sun Times.

Ohio New Business Startups See Uptick

September 27, 2022September 26, 2022 The Center Square

Ohio new business startups broke a downward trend in August, but not enough to return to levels from a year ago.

The state registered 15,815 new business filings in August, slightly higher than July, which represented a six-month low and four consecutive month of declines, Secretary of State Frank LaRose announced.

Blake Masters Receives Endorsement from Leading Small Business Advocacy Organization

September 23, 2022September 22, 2022 Neil Jones

Trump-endorsed Arizona Senate nominee Blake Masters received another big-ticket endorsement Thursday, this time from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the national leading small business advocacy group.

“Blake Masters has experience working in the business community and will be a strong supporter of Arizona’s small businesses in the U.S. Senate,” said Chad Heinrich, NFIB Arizona State Director. “His top priority in Congress will be to get the economy back on track and to create a pro-small business environment. He has also expressed an interest in improving workforce training, which will help small businesses immensely as they continue to manage a worker shortage. We are proud to endorse Blake Masters today and look forward to working with him.”

NFIB Tennessee PAC Endorses Governor Lee for Re-Election

September 16, 2022September 15, 2022 Kaitlin Housler

The NFIB Tennessee PAC, composed solely of NFIB members across the state, has endorsed Governor Bill Lee for re-election.

National Federation of Independent Business Endorses State Representative Candidate Jake McCalmon

June 30, 2022June 30, 2022 Cooper Moran

Tennessee House District 63 candidate Jake McCalmon on Wednesday picked up the endorsement of a small business-focused group.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), known as the “voice of small business,” opted to endorse the businessman over his other GOP rivals.

Despite a Slim Lead in Virginia Gubernatorial Race, New PPP Poll Should Have Democrats ‘Fearing for Their Lives’ Expert Says

September 23, 2021September 22, 2021 Eric Burk

A new University of Mary Washington (UMW) poll of 1,000 Virginia adults found Terry McAuliffe leading with 43 percent, Glenn Youngkin with 38 percent, and Liberation Party candidate Princess Blanding at two percent. Among the 528 likely voters in the poll, Youngkin gained ten points, reaching 48 percent, while McAuliffe and Blanding stayed at 43 percent and two percent, respectively. But elections forecaster Chaz Nuttycombe said that the big story is the Public Policy Polling (PPP) poll released Tuesday that had McAuliffe leading Youngkin 45 to 42 percent; it surveyed 875 Virginia voters on September 17 and 18 with a 3.3 percent margin of error. It did not include Blanding.

“The one big exclamation point that should be having Dems say, ‘Oh s–t, oh f–k, oh s–t, oh f–k,’ is the PPP poll that came out. That had McAuliffe up by three. PPP is a very Democrat-leaning pollster,” he said. “Their polls usually overestimate Democrats by a few points.”

Virginia Gov. Northam Proposes $862 Million of American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Partially Refill Unemployment Trust Fund

July 29, 2021July 28, 2021 Eric Burk

As part of his “Investment Week” announcing American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation proposals, Governor Ralph Northam announced $862 million for Virginia’s unemployment insurance trust fund, depleted during COVID-19.

“Shoring up the Commonwealth’s unemployment insurance trust fund is a smart investment that will prevent Virginia businesses from paying higher taxes and allow our economy to continue surging,” Northam said in a Tuesday announcement.

Virginia NFIB Director Calls for Back-To-Work Bonuses

June 6, 2021June 5, 2021 Eric Burk

A May survey from the NFIB found that nationally, seasonally-adjusted 48 percent of small businesses reported unfilled job openings for the fourth consecutive month.

“Virginia small businesses are having a historically hard time hiring workers and getting back to pre-COVID levels,” NFIB Virginia State Director Nicole Riley said in a press release.

Norment, Saslaw Discuss If Virginia Will Remain Business-Friendly in the Future

May 14, 2021May 13, 2021 Eric Burk

In a post-session virtual luncheon hosted by Wason Center Academic Director Quentin Kidd, Senate Minority Leader Thomas Norment (R-James City) expressed alarm at erosion of Virginia’s business-friendly status while Senate Majority Leader Dick Saslaw (D-Fairfax) said moderate pro-business senators were helping protect Virginia’s business environment — for now.

Virginia NFIB: Business Is Improving, but Employers Are Having Trouble Filling Positions

April 16, 2021April 15, 2021 Eric Burk

As the country emerges from COVID-19 restrictions, small businesses are doing better, according to a March report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). However, uncertainty about the next few months for business owners is still high, and businesses are having trouble finding qualified workers to fill positions.

“Virginia’s small businesses are working hard on their recovery but are struggling to find the right workers to fill open positions,” NFIB Virginia State Director Nicole Riley said in a Wednesday press release

Virginia Business Community Praises COVID-19 Stimulus, but Seeks State Action for Full Benefits

December 27, 2020December 26, 2020 The Center Square

Virginia business advocates praised the COVID-19 stimulus package passed by Congress but said additional state action is necessary for businesses to receive the full benefits of the legislation.

The $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus provides about $325 billion in aid to small businesses nationally, including $284 billion for forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, $20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants, $15 billion for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions and another $12 billion for businesses in low-income and minority communities.

Congress’ bill also addressed a couple of concerns businesses raised regarding the first wave of PPP loans. The bill simplifies the forgiveness applications and makes the loans tax deductible at the federal level. The deductibility applies to loans that already have been received and any loans received in the second wave, which would prevent a hidden tax increase on businesses.

80 Percent of Small Business Owners Are Waiting to Receive a Loan from the SBA, Survey Finds

April 22, 2020April 21, 2020 Zachery Schmidt

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center released a survey Tuesday that said 80 percent of small business owners are still waiting to receive a loan from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

“Small businesses were prepared and ready to apply for these programs, the only financial support options for most, and it is very frustrating that the majority of these true small businesses haven’t received their loan yet,” Holly Wade, NFIB Director of Research & Policy Analysis, said. “Small businesses make up nearly half of the economy and it’s crucial that their doors stay open.”

Groups Come Together for ‘No Tax on My Occupation’ Lobby Day at State Legislature

February 12, 2020February 11, 2020 Laura Baigert

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Eight groups partnered together Tuesday for a “No Tax on my Occupation” lobby day at the Tennessee state legislature.

Glen Casada Tells Small Business NFIB to Get Involved in Tennessee Politics

February 20, 2019February 19, 2019 Chris Butler

NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The best way Tennessee’s small business owners can help state legislators and, ultimately, themselves, is to get more engaged in state politics, said state House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin. Casada made those remarks Tuesday at the Cordell Hull State Office Building while addressing members of the NFIB:…

Blackburn, Bredesen Reveal Stark Differences on Judges, Obamacare at NFIB Forum

August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 Chris Butler

NASHVILLE, Tennessee–Tennessee U.S. Senate Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn (R-TN-07) said, if elected, she’ll vote to appoint federal judges based on whether they abide by what’s in the U.S. Constitution. Her opponent, Democrat Phil Bredesen, said voting to appoint a judge really boils down to his or her qualifications and temperament.…

NFIB: E-Verify and Tennessee Businesses

July 21, 2018July 20, 2018 John Bryant

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) has updated information for Tennessee businesses to help owners and managers keep up with what Tennessee state law requires when it comes to the E-Verify system. As of Jan. 1, 2017 – due to an update to the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act (TLEA)…

Tennessee Adds 45,000 Jobs Over Past Year

June 8, 2018June 7, 2018 Jason M. Reynolds

Tennessee’s unemployment rates remain low and the state added 45,000 jobs the past year, the National Federation of Independent Business said. According to the March 2018 numbers from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, 82 of the state’s 95 counties saw lower unemployment rates that month than they…

NFIB Grades 110th Tennessee General Assembly from the Small Business Perspective

May 5, 2018May 4, 2018 Tennessee Star Staff

The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) rated the 110th Tennessee General Assembly on Wednesday, just few days after Tennessee’s legislative body adjourned for the year. “The Tennessee Legislature is now adjourned, but NFIB/TN worked hard to protect the state’s small business owners right until the end. In late April,…

New Survey: Majority of Tennessee Small Business Owners Oppose Haslam’s Gas Tax Increase

February 14, 2017February 13, 2017 Tennessee Star Staff

Fifty-five percent of “Tennessee members of the National Federation of Independent Business [NFIB], the nation’s leading small-business association,” oppose Gov. Haslam’s gas tax increase proposal to fund road construction, the NFIB said in a statement released on Monday. “NFIB’s policy positions are based on the direct input of our members,”…