Small businesses association continues call for small business legislation

The Small Business Association and Resource Center (SBARC) is calling on the new government to establish a national development plan specifically for small and medium-sized businesses and for Parliament to legislate a Small Business Act, according to a statement from the association. 

SBARC’s founder Mark Turnquest has been lobbying for a Small Business Act for more than 10 years and has made the development of small businesses his profession.

Turnquest is hoping to have SBARC, which officially launched last month, up to more than 1,000 members by next year.

“The organization is expected to have an immediate and successful impact when it comes to lobbying for the legislating of a Small Business Act and other policies that will successfully develop the MSME (micro, small and medium enterprises) sector,” the statement said.

At the height of the pandemic, Turnquest and other small business owners marched to protest the closure of small businesses and to push their agenda for small business legislation.

While the march was hindered slightly by COVID-19 protocols, police allowed the participants to walk the streets.

“On September 4, 2020 about 24 non-essential Micro, Small & Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) owners took to the streets in an uplifting, non-political, non-violent, gender equal, professional and small business development focused march,” the statement explained.

SBARC said that they continue to push for the government to allow small non-essential businesses the ability to open within the limits of health and safety protocols.

Part of the association’s strategic goals are to also “increase the participation of non-essential MSME owners when it comes to creating policies to govern their sector; and the relaxing of regulations that act as barriers to obtaining local and international funding for MSMEs”. 

Several years ago Turnquest formulated a framework for a small business act and hopes government will use it as a blueprint for legislation.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/small-businesses-association-continues-call-for-small-business-legislation/