Issue Position: Entrepreneurism

Issue Position

Michelle is a small business owner of over 15 years in Escambia County. Her passion to create this business was so she could be at home to raise her children, while helping to support her family with her husband by her side.

A central reason why the 20th century came to be called the American Century was the ability of individuals to invent and create in a land of free markets. Back then they were called risk-takers, dreamers, and small business owners. Today they are the entrepreneurs, independent contractors, and small business men and women of our new economy. Their innovation drives improvement and forces long-established institutions to adapt or fade away.

Entrepreneurs create most new jobs and form the commercial network that holds communities together. Their enterprise is the lifeblood of our economy. We should reduce the occupational licensing laws that shut untold millions of potential workers out of entrepreneurial careers. We must overturn the regulatory nightmare for the community banks and savings and loans that provide nearly half of all small business loans and over three-quarters of all agricultural loans. We must challenge established interests and traditional business patterns to facilitate market entry of new business models, including inventive means of transport, delivery, and communication. Pensacola has been gaining momentum as a very entrepreneurial friendly community, and Michelle has been a part of this conversation for many years as a partner in University of West Florida's Center for Entrepreneurs, The Studer Community Institute, and maintained ongoing communications with the Small Business Administration both locally and at the state level. Michelle will continue this dialogue with actionable plans to encourage small business development in our community.

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