On April 16, 8THIRTYFOUR Integrated Communications hosted a private roundtable with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten and 14 women-owned small business leaders from West Michigan.
It was a real conversation between the people who are building this economy and one of the few elected officials actually listening.
Organized in partnership with Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and JETCO Federal, the discussion focused on the federal and state policies that are making it harder—not easier—for WOSBs to survive and grow.
Coverage from WOOD TV8, WGVU, and WZZM13 amplified the voices inside the room—but it’s the substance that needs action.
What WOSBs Are Dealing With
Recession. Tariffs. Discrimination. Threats for being a woman-owned business.
These aren’t abstract concerns. They’re lived, daily realities for the small business owners who gathered in our office on April 16.
They talked about how bias shows up in every process—from lending and certifications to contracts and capital access.
They shared the exhaustion that comes with constantly having to prove your legitimacy while still being asked to do more with less.
They spoke plainly about the fear and intimidation tactics some face just for owning a business as a woman.
The Cost of Doing Business is Skyrocketing
8THIRTYFOUR’s own health plan is increasing by 40% this year. That’s not sustainable for any business trying to pay living wages, retain talent, and grow.
The immigration system? Broken. Companies can’t find skilled workers—and when they can, the system to hire them legally is so slow and restrictive it might as well not exist.
And the failure doesn’t stop at the federal level. In Michigan, many of our own elected officials won’t even hold town halls or meet with constituents. No conversation. No accountability. Just glossy mailers and vague press statements.
While small businesses are drowning in red tape and rising costs, economic development organizations are handing out tax breaks and incentives to massive out-of-state corporations. They chase splashy headlines and ribbon cuttings while ignoring the 97% of businesses already here, already employing, already reinvesting—us.
Elizabeth organizes an AI conference led by women. Men regularly reach out asking to speak, but none of them show up. The event isn’t just for women—but women are the ones leading the sessions, sharing expertise, and shaping the future of the field. The pattern is clear: men want the platform, not the conversation—especially when they’re not the ones in charge of it.
This is the reality. And it’s unacceptable.
Tariffs and Trade Policy: Unpredictable and Punishing
Small business owners talked about how volatile international trade policies are wrecking their ability to plan, price, or deliver. The instability isn’t just frustrating—it’s financially devastating.
“I could have a sale that’s at $200,000, and by the time I get the order, if there’s a tariff change, I could lose money. We’re at a point where we can’t really price things out more than a week.”
This is the reality of bidding on federal contracts or quoting jobs when the rules can shift overnight. It’s not sustainable—and it’s not fair.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—Say It Out Loud
This wasn’t just a conversation about money and markets. It was about Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.
Too often we hear, “I don’t believe in DEI,” as if the acronym is some distant concept. Try saying the full thing—diversity, equity, and inclusion—and sitting with what that actually means.
Because when people say they don’t believe in DEI, what they’re really saying is:
“I don’t believe in fairness.”
“I don’t believe in access.”
“I don’t believe people who don’t look like me should have a voice.”
This isn’t political. It’s operational. It’s personal. It’s real.
If you’re not advocating for equity, you’re holding back the people doing the work to build something better.
Scholten Showed Up—Because She Gets It
Congresswoman Hillary Scholten didn’t show up because someone begged her to. She asked for this. She knew who needed to be in the room and trusted 8THIRTYFOUR to bring them together—and we delivered.
She came without a script, stayed until every voice was heard, and left with a deeper understanding of the pressure small business owners are under. She listens, she engages, and she keeps showing up. That’s what leadership looks like.
And when business owners asked what they could be doing to advocate for change, Scholten gave real, tangible steps they could take. Not broad encouragement. Not empty promises. Just practical guidance—something far too rare from public officials.
She also made one thing very clear: you don’t have to go to Washington to be heard. That’s her job. That’s what she was elected to do. And it’s a reminder more lawmakers need to sit with—because when they decided to run, they promised to listen.
Where Is the Rest of Michigan’s Representation?
Let’s be blunt: the silence from other Michigan lawmakers is deafening.
The people elected to represent small businesses in this state aren’t holding town halls. They’re not meeting with constituents. They’re not sitting in rooms like this one. They’re hiding behind press releases and ribbon cuttings while small businesses grind it out alone.
If you’re not talking to the people building this state—you’re not doing your job.
We Challenge Every Lawmaker to Host These Conversations
This roundtable wasn’t for show. It wasn’t political theater. It was business owners speaking the truth and a leader who was willing to listen.
Sit down with small business owners and hear what they’re facing.
And if you don’t know how to plan one? Call us. We’ll organize it for you, manage the media and make the connections – cause we know you don’t have them.
Don’t wait for a campaign year to care. Small business owners are watching. And we’re keeping receipts.
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