During a meeting of USCM’s Small Business Task Force, Partner America™ updates mayors on available solutions to support their communities 

Washington, DC – On June 2, 2023, as part of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) Annual Meeting in Columbus, OH, representatives from Partner America™ shared an update on the status of small businesses during a Small Business Task Force meeting, chaired by Burnsville, MN Mayor Elizabeth Kautz.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of America’s cities, and ensuring their prosperity and growth is critical to our communities’ continued economic recovery,” said Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz, Chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Small Business Task Force. “I thank the Partner America team for their ongoing support of the nation’s mayors as we work to support, strengthen, and expand small businesses across the country.”

Partner America’s Lou Mosca kicked off the session by discussing some of the challenges many small business owners are facing at this time. “We’re finding that the biggest source of angst amongst business owners at this time includes interest rates, recession, liquidity, opportunity, competition, EIDL repayments, reduced foot traffic, and staffing. These challenges are beginning to impact local economies drastically. Mayors are the first line of defense for businesses throughout the United States, and to help offset the pressure from these business challenges, the Partner America™ program has been working extensively to educate owners on planning, growing, competing, and developing a culture of opportunity and success within their organizations.”

Two resources the Partner America™ program makes available to mayors include:

  • Partner America™ Small Business Events: These events give mayors a unique way to strengthen their relationships with their business owner communities, raising awareness of the city’s dedication to business success and supporting development, job creation, and economic prosperity.
  • Business Survey™ Analysis: Over 5-7 days, a team of analysts works with the business owner and their team to understand the organization’s inner workings, identify their challenges and weaknesses, then provide valuable recommendations to grow sales, improve employee recruiting and engagement, grow profits, and create a more competitive and successful organization.

“Every single day, America’s small businesses are strengthening local economies, diversifying our communities, and creating job opportunities for millions of Americans,” said Tom Cochran, CEO and Executive Director of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. “Championing small businesses is a top priority of America’s mayors, and we thank the Partner America team for the opportunities they continue to provide to support the nation’s small business owners.”