DOVER – Gov. Matt Meyer and Division of Small Business Director CJ Bell were greeted by an apprehensive small business community on Thursday during a meeting with the General Assembly’s Small Business Caucus at Legislative Hall.
In a packed room in person and online, Meyer showed off his colorful sneakers from Wilmington apparel store and small business
Kool Kolored Kid Generation as he and his top small business chief met with trade association leaders, legislators and nonprofits to give a sense of where their priorities lie with small businesses.
Meyer and Bell did hint to one new policy item on the agenda – improved diversity in state contracts for construction, goods, services and other vendor items.
“We want to emphasize
supplier diversity. We want to make sure our purchasing power reflects the demographic we serve,” Bell said.
That would work to address struggles that some businesses have faced to tap into the millions of dollars allocated in the state government. A
2022 study found that businesses owned by people of color received less than 7% of procurement dollars in Delaware between 2015 and 2020.
Although the room was quiet in anticipation for what may be to come from the new leadership, Bell and Meyer were able to collect some of their thoughts such as concerns for minority business owners, education and legislation counteracting the hard work of entrepreneurs who dedicate their lives to developing their businesses.
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Dr. Ronaldo Tello, president and CEO of the Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, raised concerns during the Small Business Caucus meeting about minority business owners. l DBT PHOTO BY JENNIFER ANTONIK[/caption]
Those like
Dr. Ronaldo Tello, the president and CEO of the
Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said that Delaware’s minority business owners need support more now than ever.
“I think it’s very important that our leaders’. . . priorities are the communities that are most vulnerable. I believe that we are representing communities that come from disadvantaged neighborhoods, and we still need to see a lot of changes,” he said during the meeting.
Some of those changes needed include education, literacy and safety topics for starters, he added. Tello said his team is still teaching constituents how to use a computer or how to read, all while often not receiving membership fees as it is oftentimes a hardship for the communities they serve.
Those issues are compounded by their members by a continued fear of going to state or local leadership for the help they need to both thrive in the community and start their own business in hopes of finding financial freedom along the way.
“Can you imagine not being sure if you will be able to be with your kids the next day if you have an encounter?” Tello asked, “I believe the leaders should first pay attention to those communities.” He also addressed Meyer in Spanish, acknowledging the diverse experiences the new governor brings to office, including a working knowledge of the language.
Bell worked alongside Meyer in New Castle County as the economic development director but has frequently pointed to his work with former Gov. Tom Carper and Gov. John Carney for giving him the experience of understanding the diverse needs of the entire state. But he also pointed to his own experience with start-ups like The Connect, as a reference point.
“Pretty much everybody I know has some sort of side hustle, right? It’s day two – I’m still learning a lot,” he said to the room packed with business owners, association leaders and legislators.
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The Small Business Caucus met Thursday, Jan. 23 for the first time this year. l DBT PHOTO BY JENNIFER ANTONIK[/caption]
Bell’s initial comments didn’t sit well with some in the room who emphasized the importance of small businesses which ultimately account for 98% of all businesses in the state.
“I’ve got to tell you – a business is not a side hustle. For many of us, it’s our livelihood,” said Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford) during the meeting. He also pointed out that more than 40 families that rely on their jobs within Shupe’s family businesses to support their own families.
Later in the meeting, Shupe asked the pair how Delaware can educate more students on entrepreneurship while encouraging more Delawareans to take that first step in starting a business.
Meyer agreed that more educational opportunities on entrepreneurship could benefit the First State and bring out the creativity in residents who might be able to tap into an “imagination of a Delaware different than what we have today.” He also invited Shupe to present models of what that might look like moving forward.
“I know that we’re not going to make 100% of Delaware entrepreneurs – and that’s okay. We need good workers,” the governor added.
Shupe later told the Delaware Business Times after the meeting that he would consider the invitation.
“I would love to see some models in education and our school system for building a more entrepreneurial mind and I would love to bring in some of those models from other states,” Shupe told DBT. “Judging from the conversation, he’d be very open to hearing it.”
Delaware Restaurant Association President & CEO
Carrie Leishman appreciated the perspective and shared another side of the coin for many business owners. She said that their work is often the one that is most regulated and subject to new state laws.
“So much, when we meet in forums like this, it’s asked of us, ‘What can we do for small business?’ Put the brakes on; it’s what we don’t want anybody to do,” she said.
Leishman asked a pointed question to Bell and Meyer: What is the role your office plays in staying out of the way of small business?
“Sometimes [bills are] based on agenda, not listening because we’re all truly unique,” she added.
After thinking about his own experiences as a small business owner, Meyer agreed with the sentiment expressed by Leishman.
“There are very often well-meaning policies that can have unintended results. For example, sometimes legislation or policy proposals that are intended to help employees. . . but I know as a small business owner, that if we, in this building, do too much, it’s not going to make business sense to hire people,” he said. “That’s really top of mind, especially when you look at what’s happening in the country.”
Meyer has mentioned national politics several times during public speaking events over the last few weeks, focusing on his dedication to protecting Delawareans and collaborating with groups statewide to move the state forward.
During the Small Business Caucus meeting, leaders in many different industries, nonprofits, life sciences, manufacturing and others, came together to offer a collaborative effort to the new governor and his small business director in hopes of doing just that.
“It’s got to be a give and take between small businesses and any office in the government and I think more dialogue is definitely needed,” Shupe told DBT. “I do enjoy that the new governor has some small business experience because I think that whenever you try to understand the small business climate, that always plays in the back of your mind – what are the realities back on the ground? So, I’m confident that that will help his decision making.”
On the other hand, Shupe also acknowledged hesitancy as he awaits news in support of small businesses from the new administration. He noted that he did not hear any new policies but was confident that it will come from the Meyer administration soon.
He also agreed with Leishman’s point of over-regulation having a harder impact on smaller businesses.
“I think other legislators that have never owned a small business or maybe never even worked for a small business,” he told DBT. “I think they’re doing things with a good heart like raising minimum wage or paid family leave, we all want those things, including business owners. But they don’t understand the stresses and the economics behind it. I hope that this year they can work with small business owners so we can achieve those things while also taking into consideration the small business needs.”