Pointing Fingers Won’t
Help Small Businesses Rebuild – Funding Their Recovery Will
By Scott Hauge
There has been much finger-pointing in
the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina
because of the slow response on behalf of the local, state
and federal governments. However, the question of who is to
blame won’t help anyone, especially devastated small
business owners, get back on their feet.
Louisiana lost more than one-third of
its economy due to Hurricane Katrina’s wrath. The vast
majority of businesses that have been shut down or greatly
impaired due to the hurricane are small businesses.
Without small businesses, most Gulf
disaster victims will not be able to return to normal life.
Until these small business owners get back on their feet,
the Gulf Coast’s economy cannot substantially recover.
The best way to make a difference in
the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast is to help small business
owners with their rebuilding efforts.
Government agencies and insurance
companies will do what they can, but the area’s small
business owners need help now.
Through the power and generosity of the
small businesses of California a difference can truly be
made at the front lines to get the economy of the Gulf Coast
back up and running.
That is why Small Business California
and partners the San Francisco Small Business Advocate, San
Francisco Small Business Network, California Association of
Employers, and Small Manufacturers Association of California
are leading the way through the Small Business Disaster
Relief Fund.
The fund will provide grants in
Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for small businesses
damaged by Hurricane Katrina to get back into business as
soon as possible. The effort is supported by the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Association of Business and
Industry and administered by the Baton Rouge Foundation.
Californians truly can be at the
forefront of making a difference at the national level, with
tangible results to feel good about. So stop the
finger-pointing and let the helping begin.
Contributions to the Small Business
Disaster Relief Fund are tax deductible, and contributions
will be matched 25 cents on the dollar. Checks or credit
card donations are accepted. Checks should be made payable
to Small Business Disaster Relief Fund/BRAF and sent
to Small Business California (SB-Cal), 2311 Taraval Street,
San Francisco, CA 94116. Credit card donations can be
securely made on the Small Business California website at
www.smallbusinesscalifornia.org. Additional information
can also be found there or by calling Small Business
California at (415) 680-2188.
Scott Hauge is founder and president
of Small Business California, a proactive, non-partisan
business advocacy organization dedicated to the well being
of California small businesses.
