DES MOINES, IA (May 15, 2020) – Business leaders in Iowa today sent a letter to Governor Kim Reynolds urging continued support for online tools and digital platforms vital to preserving small business activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Led by the Connected Commerce Council (3C), the letter was signed by 73 Iowa-based leaders representing a range of digitally empowered small businesses, including the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce in Atlantic, Iowa.
“Access to online tools enables websites, analytics, digital ads, online marketplaces, and e-commerce platforms to empower retailers, restaurants, service providers, and Iowa small businesses of all types,” wrote Iowa business leaders. “Now, more than ever, businesses and the Iowans they serve benefit from the stability, scale, and security of these tools.”
Small business advocates also cautioned against ill-timed regulations and legal challenges that could disrupt technology options that have proven critical during the downturn.
“With storefronts closed across the country, the tools offered by companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon have become vital economic lifelines for countless small business owners and entrepreneurs,” said 3C President Jake Ward. “We’re fortunate to have leaders like Governor Kim Reynolds who understand what it takes for Iowa to compete in the digital economy, but we continue to see misguided anti-tech campaigns that create needless uncertainty for small businesses just working to stay afloat.”
“Without tools like Facebook and Google or the option for business owners to create their own online buying options, there’s no way our small business owners could have maintained the same level of service for their customers during this pandemic,” Bailey Smith, Executive Director at the Atlantic Area Chamber of Commerce stated.
“We’re lucky to have access to so many free and low-cost digital platforms and tools for business owners to stay in business, maintain their workforce and serve our community. As the economy works toward reopening, it’s important for elected leaders to understand the role technology is now playing to help keep small businesses functioning,” mentioned Smith.
A copy of the letter and a list of signers is available here