By Christin Evans, HANC Board

In October, a new advocacy group for small businesses will launch. Founding member Justin Dolezal, co-owner of Bar Part-Time in the Mission, says the new organization will give a voice to small business owners and workers centering their policy concerns.

While other business organizations exist, the Chamber of Commerce in particular has dominated at City Hall giving large businesses a disproportionate voice in the political discourse. San Francisco is home to thousands of small businesses including neighborhood commercial corridor retailers and restaurateurs.

Under significant strain prior to the pandemic due to rising rents and costs of doing business, many small businesses have folded leaving vacancies scattered throughout the city. But a majority of small businesses have been resilient and have come through the pandemic. Some but not all were able to obtain government grants and loans which primarily supported payroll expenses while sales were depressed. As small businesses continue on a path of recovery, paying off back rent owed and supporting their staff with retirement, health benefits and a living wage, Small Business Forward will give a voice to their urgent needs.

The headline on the organization’s website says, “We believe our city can allow our diverse small business community to thrive— and we are committed to fighting for policies that forward these goals. We serve as a resource for small business owners and workers as they seek to economically prosper in the city that we love.” The group’s initial political platform seeks to connect small businesses with access to working capital, establish commercial rent controls, advocate for affordable housing both owners and workers can afford, and support community safety measures which reject reactionary police spending.

For more information about Small Business Forward go to sfbusinessforward.com.