As the West Michigan Policy Forum gears up for its biennial conference on Sept. 12, 2024, west Michigan small-business leaders are talking about how events like the conference are a great way to use their collective voices to affect positive change in Lansing.
During the current legislative session, elected leaders in Lansing have voted in favor of several anti-business policy initiatives, that favor special interests but hurt individuals and small businesses, like repealing our state’s landmark right-to-work law, reinstating the antiquated prevailing wage law, and instituting draconian, one-size-fits-all, energy mandates.
Jose Gonzalez, co-founder and CEO of Preferred Flooring in Walker, said the prevailing wage law has been especially detrimental for his business and many other small businesses.
“When something like prevailing wage gets reinstated, for someone like me, who has nine employees, it takes me out of contention for a lot of projects.” Gonzalez continued that due to massive red tape this mandate creates. “I don’t even want to entertain a bid. Our window of opportunities got a little smaller.”
Gonzalez stressed the importance of getting involved with groups like the Grand Rapids Chamber and the Policy Forum’s work to help strengthen the voices of small-business owners.
“Lansing is looking at businesses as corporate America and not construction America,” Gonzalez said. “Construction America operates on a much smaller scale, it’s more personalized, it’s more individualized. And if Lansing doesn’t understand that soon, there’s going to be a lot of people who are going to be in trouble.
“Power is in numbers. The more people you can have in the same room voicing their opinions, the louder the room is.”
Jacey Shachter, president of Metric Structures of Grand Rapids, a construction, design and real estate development firm, said the Right to Work repeal has negatively impacted her business.
“We do a lot of private bidding compared to other companies that do a lot of union work, so that has really excluded us from a lot of the public private partnerships in our industry, Shachter said. “We need the freedom to do our jobs and to do what is right for our clients and our communities. And being burdened by some of those policies can eliminate some of those freedoms.
“The small businesses that make up west Michigan and Michigan employ and take care of so many Michigan constituents, and (Lansing’s elected officials) need to look out for us.”
Conference attendees can learn more at expert-led sessions on economic forecasts, regulatory changes, and advocacy strategies. Participants can also connect with hundreds of leaders and legislators as they explore innovative ways to improve Michigan’s economic ranking and growth.
Don’t miss this opportunity to influence our state’s future. Register for the conference HERE to secure your spot now!
