Thousands of American Small Businesses Ask Governors for Help During COVID-19 Crisis Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards Urged to Protect E-Commerce Tools for Small Business

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (June 11, 2020) – Community leaders and small businesses throughout Louisiana sent a letter calling on Governor Edwards and other state policymakers to preserve access to business-critical digital tools and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic and the long recovery period ahead. Led by the Connected Commerce Council (3C), the letter was signed by more than 35 Louisiana- based leaders representing a range of digitally empowered small businesses, including Louisiana Association of Business and Industry in Baton Rouge.

“Access to online tools enables websites, analytics, digital ads, online marketplaces, and e-commerce platforms to empower retailers, restaurants, service providers, and Louisiana small businesses of all types,” wrote Louisiana business leaders. “Now, more than ever, businesses and the Louisianans they serve benefit from the stability, scale, and security of these tools.”

The letter also cautioned Governor Edwards that controversial campaigns against U.S. tech companies like Google and Facebook create unnecessary instability for millions of American small businesses using these tools and services to run and operate their businesses.

“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. “Governor Edwards and leaders like him throughout the state understand what it takes for Louisiana to compete in the digital economy, and they know that now is not the time to put small businesses at a disadvantage or slow their recovery.”

“Digital tools like Zoom, Google Hangouts and Meet, etc. have been vital to keeping up with the demands of business during this unprecedented time,” said Courtney Baker, Director of Trade, Tourism and Transportation at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry in Baton Rouge.

“I believe, now more than ever, these technologies and the companies behind them deserve our support.”

A copy of the letter and a list of signers is available here.