Listening Session Archive

U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy - Regional Regulatory Roundtable

March 16, 2018

Please join the Office of Advocacy for a roundtable discussion of federal regulatory issues impacting your small business. SBA Administrator Linda McMahon is expected to join us for this event. Advocacy is also inviting Wisconsin Congressional offices and key federal agencies to hear your concerns about federal regulations and other issues you may be facing with your small business. The Milwaukee roundtable will take place at Schlitz Park on Rivercenter Drive in Conference Room #3 beginning at 8:30 am on March 16.

President Trump has made regulatory reform a centerpiece of his agenda and signed two executive orders addressing the regulatory burden faced by the private sector. As the independent voice for small business within the federal government, The Office of Advocacy has a unique and important role to aid agency implementation of the new executive orders. To assist in accomplishing the goals of the executive orders, we have developed a Regulatory Reform Action Plan.

As part of this plan, we are hosting Regional Regulatory Reform Roundtables across the country to hear from small businesses first-hand about what federal regulations most concern and impact them. For this Regulatory Reform effort to be successful, we need small business participation. This will be an opportunity for small business leaders to educate Advocacy and federal agencies through first-hand accounts of how federal regulations impact their small business. The information gathered at these roundtables will be utilized to inform agencies, Congress and the public on what specific regulations can be modified or removed to help small businesses.

Registration for this event is free, however, please fill out the registration form below so that we will be prepared to discuss various regulatory issues. If you are unable to attend but would still like to provide us with federal regulatory small business concerns, please fill out the form.

Register Here.

The Office of Advocacy is an independent office housed in the SBA that serves as an independent voice for small business within the federal government, the watchdog for the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) and the source of small business statistics. Advocacy advances the views and concerns of small business before Congress, the White House, federal agencies, federal courts, and state policymakers.

The agenda will be created based on registrations. All small businesses are welcome to attend for as little or as long as their schedule will permit. Small Businesses do not need to attend all day, Advocacy staff and Federal Agency staff will be in attendance to hear your comments and concerns.

Don’t see your industry on the agenda? No problem.

ALL small businesses are welcome to comment on federal regulations at any time during the roundtable or you can come during the final segment of general small business concerns.

*Registration will begin at 8:00 and the event will begin at 8:30*

8:00-8:30am: Registration and networking

8:30-8:50am Opening Remarks and Welcome

8:50-9:00am: Who is Advocacy and Why are we here?

9:00-9:30am: Input from the Transportation, Hospitality, and Retail Industries

9:30-10:00am: Input from the Financial Services and Real Estate Industries

10:00-10:30am: Input from the Construction and Manufacturing Industries

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45-11: 30 am: Input from the Agriculture, Energy, and Land Use Industries

11:30-11: 45 am: General Small Business Regulatory Concerns

11:45-12:00pm: Closing Remarks

12:00-12:30pm: Networking

CDFI Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol 2018

February 8, 2018

On Wednesday, January 17th, 2018, 30 individuals attended the second annual Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol! Attendees included legislators and their staff, representatives from 7 Wisconsin-based CDFIs, the Wisconsin Bankers Association, and local nonprofit and community leaders. 

CDFIs play a critical role in the state economy by providing access to capital for low and moderate-income households that face barriers to financing through traditional financial institutions. As CDFIs, we pride ourselves on building relationships with clients and providing comprehensive technical support services throughout the life of their loan(s).

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Evaluating Social Impact Across Our Wisconsin Communities: Five Case Studies

January 12, 2018

To address the socioeconomic and racial disparities that affect Wisconsin communities, IIW recognizes the multiple determinants of well-being such as education, job creation, geography and access to capital that facilitate better outcomes for individuals, families and communities. To that end, IIW spent 2017 conducting a series of borrower case studies to understand how receiving a loan from our collaborative affected the lives of our clients in ways that are more than purely financial.

READ THE CASE STUDY REPORT

CDFI Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol

May 15, 2017

On Tuesday, May 9th, 2017, nearly 30 people attended the first ever Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) Day at the Wisconsin State Capitol!

After a morning full of one-on-one visits with members of the legislature, we held an afternoon session, where CDFIs from across the state presented data that demonstrate the social and economic impact of our work, including nearly two billion dollars in loans to Wisconsin businesses, nonprofits and individuals!

In addition, Wisconsin CDFIs have supported the development of over six thousand units of affordable housing and the creation or expansion of nearly eight thousand businesses. The result of our investments has created nearly 80,000 jobs and over 40,000 seats in educational and childcare programs throughout our state!

READ THE CDFI DAY EVENT SUMMARY

Invest in Wisconsin Listening Sessions Summary Report 2016

March 13, 2017

Between September 21st and December 9th 2016, Invest in Wisconsin held a series of listening sessions in Madison, Appleton, Green Bay and Racine. Our listening sessions provided a critical venue for formal and informal leaders to share ideas, suggestions and hopes for what a thriving rural Wisconsin could look like if they had adequate access to capital. Nearly 90 participants attended these listening sessions, representing stakeholders from community development financial institutions (CDFIs), city and county government offices, nonprofit organizations and higher education.

Download and read about our findings in the Invest in Wisconsin Listening Sessions Summary Report 2016.      

Community Listening Session: Racine Summary Report

December 9, 2016

On December 9th, 2016, over 25 participants attended the last in a series of 2016 Invest in Wisconsin Community Listening Sessions, which was held at the iMET Center at Gateway Technical College in Racine.

CommunityListeningSession_12.9.16_Racine_SummaryReport

Community Listening Session: Green Bay Summary Report

November 17, 2016

On November 17th, 2016, 12 participants attended the third Invest in Wisconsin Community Listening Session held at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center in Green Bay.

CommunityListeningSession_11.17.16_GreenBay_SummaryReport

Community Listening Session: Appleton Summary Report

October 18, 2016

On October 18th, 2016, over 20 participants attended the second Invest in Wisconsin Community Listening Session held at Fox Valley Technical College located in Appleton.

CommunityListeningSession_10.18.16_Appleton_SummaryReport

Community Listening Session: Madison Summary Report

September 21, 2016

On September 21, 2016, over 25 participants attended the first Invest in Wisconsin (IIW) Community Listening Session held at Threshold, a community gathering space on Madison’s eastside.

CommunityListeningSession_9.21.16_Madison_SummaryReport