Become a Small Business Advocate in Washington State

Interested in influencing public policy in a big way? As a member of NFIB, you are already part of an association that is highly regarded in Olympia and in Washington, D.C., but if you’re interested in taking one extra step, it could make a world of difference in the outcome of legislative proposals circulating the State Capitol and Congress—and NFIB makes it easy. NFIB’s lobbying efforts are strongest when supported by the real voices of business owners. Whether you want to act by using an email action alert, speaking to the media, or testifying before a legislative committee, NFIB offers the tools and support to make your voice resonate. The following are some of the optional opportunities you can participate in under NFIB’s Advocacy Program:

Communicate with legislators
Attend NFIB events
Host a legislator for an NFIB event
Submit a letter to the editor, drafted with the help of NFIB
Speak on camera about an issue for an NFIB-produced video
Speak to the media
Testify at the state or federal Level
Support small business-friendly candidates
Build NFIB’s clout

Issue Focus NFIB has a reputation in Olympia and in Washington D.C. for knowing of what it speaks, which is why we speak out only on those issues directly related to our members’ ability to own, operate, and grow their businesses—and NOT on every issue under the sun. A full list of those issues, 75 in all, can be found in NFIB’s quadrennial Small Business Problems & Priorities report. Some of those issues are very familiar to you:

The perennial worry of finding affordable health care
The everyday struggle of complying with myriad regulations
The struggle to keep up with tax obligations
Workers’ compensation premiums, unemployment insurance taxes
You name it.

NFIB places a premium on the quality of the legislative advocates it has on staff—but no one commands the attention of policymakers more than the small-business owners NFIB can put before legislative hearings or reporters, or to have them just gin up emails and phone calls. Time Commitment Based on your interest, NFIB staff will provide opportunities to build and enhance your advocacy skills to best equip you to feel fully comfortable in getting involved. All opportunities will be offered virtually or, when possible, in person. Each volunteer will be asked to commit to a full calendar year. The following outlines possible time commitments:

Review issues as updated by NFIB staff to provide feedback on those that interest you. During the legislative session this could be weekly.
Utilize NFIB Action Alerts to communicate with legislators on issues impacting your business, ideally personalizing your message, by sharing the direct impact to you, your family, your business, your employees, their families, and the community that you support.
Participate in person or virtually with our Small Business Day and DC Fly-in activities, each is one time per year.
Get to know your legislators, time depends on your current relationships
Participate in events, as they arise.

How About It? NFIB will never have the giant financial campaign war chest like those associations representing big corporations do, but it has something equally potent: An army of Main Street entrepreneurs—and elected officials fear and respect them just as much. Check out The Power of the Small Business Voice 2023. We would love to have you on board. If you need more details or are you ready to take that next step in NFIB’s Advocacy Program, contact NFIB’s Senior Grassroots Manager Stacy Jenkins by email at Stacy.Jenkins@NFIB.org or by direct phone at 360-870-7749.

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Become a Small Business Advocate in Washington State

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