Speaker Robert Rivas, Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo Meet With Santa Clarita Small Business Owners to Hear How California Can Help Them Grow

The Assembly Democrats joined small business owners in Los Angeles County on Wednesday to understand ways the state can further support local and independent businesses, building on new laws authored by Asm. Schiavo and others this year to strengthen California's small business climate.

SANTA CLARITA - California is home to more than 4.3 million small, local and independent businesses that employ 7.6 million Californians, a powerful force that drives the state's economy, supports families and helps communities thrive.

That's why Speaker Robert Rivas and Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo hosted a community discussion in Santa Clarita on Wednesday: to listen to local business owners on the front lines and hear their ideas for how California can empower, strengthen and protect small businesses.

Rivas, Schiavo and Santa Clarita business leaders discussed how Assembly Democrats are breaking through the status quo to make it easier to start a business, speeding up permitting for existing businesses, and unlocking new opportunities for entrepreneurs so they can keep creating jobs.

Business leaders and owners shared their concerns about a variety of obstacles and encouraged ongoing discussion so that the state can truly support its small businesses.

Local leaders in Santa Clarita partnered with Assemblymember Schiavo this year to deliver AB 2116, the Protect Small Business from Predatory Lending Act, which strengthens protections for small businesses by increasing state licensing and oversight of additional financial providers, giving state regulators greater ability to identify and address bad actors while prohibiting abusive practices. The signing of AB 2116 is a credit to the work of Assemblymember Schiavo and the stakeholders aligning in the best interest of small businesses to deliver real safeguards for entrepreneurs.

What Speaker Rivas and Asm. Schiavo Say

"California is the world's fourth-largest economy because people take the risk of opening their own doors, and small businesses carry that work every day. Our Legislature is backing them with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax relief for new businesses, less red tape, faster permitting and more support for entrepreneurs. Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and Santa Clarita's business leaders have been out front on this work, and their results are showing up in their community and across California."

-Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas

"Small business owners put everything they have into building their businesses, and they deserve a fair shot at success, not to be trapped by predatory financing. As a small business owner myself, I know how important access to capital is, but it should never come at the cost of someone's livelihood. This legislation brings greater transparency and accountability to the industry, protecting business owners from hidden fees and outrageous interest rates. I want to thank the Speaker for uplifting the voices in our community, and I'm grateful to our coalition of community partners and organizations who helped make these protections a reality."

- Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo

California is Standing Up for Small Businesses

Wednesday's discussion builds on the Assembly's work to help businesses grow and thrive.

This year, Assembly Democrats passed new laws that put vacant storefronts to work, cut red tape around permitting, and make sure business owners get the help they need to start and grow.

This year's state budget also includes $100 million in tax incentives for new businesses. By lowering the upfront cost of starting a company, these incentives help entrepreneurs open their doors and create jobs in their communities.

New laws Assembly Democrats delivered this year include:

• Strengthening competition and consumer protections by updating California's antitrust laws to crack down on monopolistic behavior and protect small businesses.
• Turning vacant storefronts into new opportunities by allowing cities to issue permits for pop-up businesses to temporarily operate in vacant stores.
• Speeding up small business permits by streamlining plan reviews so businesses can get up and running sooner.
• Helping businesses open faster by allowing qualified architects and engineers to review building plans.
• Giving restaurants and bars more flexibility by allowing them to keep offering to-go cocktails.
• Protecting small businesses from predatory lending by strengthening safeguards against abusive commercial financing practices.
• Expanding access to small business support by supporting providers that offer free or low-cost consulting and training to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.

Wednesday's discussion in Santa Clarita continues Speaker Rivas' work traveling the state to make sure he and his Assembly Democratic colleagues hear from Californians in their own communities, and that Californians have a direct line to, and a strong voice with, their representatives at the Capitol.

For more information on these community discussions, visit Speaker Rivas' website.