The 2020 shutdowns resulted in…
%
Unemployment
TN Small Businesses Closed Permanently
%
Less African-American business owners
%
Less Female Business Owners
What’s Broken
In 2019, there were more than 600,000 small businesses in Tennessee that employed over one million people. This accounts for nearly half of all Tennesseans employed.
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Tennessee economy and many are in peril.
While there’s no perfect way to handle COVID-19, the pandemic has forced policymakers to make swift decisions that affect people’s physical, economic, and mental well-being; all with limited information and tremendous uncertainty. The result of their decision has been the closure of over a thousand small businesses in Tennessee.
An empowered society must assume greater responsibility, but small business owners are the ones who invested and labored to employ over a million Tennesseans. They should be allowed to decide how and when their businesses operate.
25%+ Tennessee Businesses
in High Risk Industries
Shutdowns don't improve public health
International studies show that mandatory lockdowns show no clear public health benefit versus other voluntary measures. In consideration of other economic and mental health costs to the population, it becomes clear that lockdowns are an unjustified heavy-handed approach.
Minorities Hurt Most
During the COVID-19 shutdowns, African‐Americans experienced the largest losses nationwide, eliminating 41% of active business owners. Latino Americans also experienced major losses. Immigrant business owners suffered a large drop of 36% in business activity. Female business owners suffered a disproportionate drop of 25%.
Lower Class Workers Suffer
Those employed in the most at-risk industries represent one in four private sector workers in our state. This population earns 40% less than the national average and is more likely to be minority, young, and have less education.
more businesses at Risk
One in five Tennessee businesses operated in the most at-risk industries last year: restaurants and bars, sensitive retail and manufacturing, travel and transportation, personal services, and entertainment.
Band-Aids aren't solutions
When the economy is forced to shut down, it comes with a huge economic cost to business owners and members of the labor force. This, in turn, creates an excessive burden on the welfare system and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.
What’s broken
In 2019, there were more than 600,000 small businesses in Tennessee that employed over one million people, accounting for nearly half of all Tennesseans employed. This makes it clear:
Small businesses are the lifeblood of the Tennessee economy and they’re in jeopardy.
While there’s no perfect way to handle COVID-19, the pandemic has forced policymakers to make swift decisions that affect people’s physical, economic, and mental well-being; all with limited information and tremendous uncertainty. The result of their decision has been the closure of over a thousand small businesses in Tennessee.
An empowered society must assume greater responsibility; but small business owners are the ones who invested and labored to employ over a million Tennesseans. They should be allowed to decide how and when their businesses operate.
25%+ Tennessee Businesses
in High Risk Industries
Shutdowns don't improve public health
International studies show that mandatory lockdowns show no clear public health benefit versus other voluntary measures. In consideration of other economic and mental health costs to the population, it becomes clear that lockdowns are an unjustified heavy-handed approach.
more businesses at Risk
One in five Tennessee businesses operated in the most at-risk industries last year: restaurants and bars, sensitive retail and manufacturing, travel and transportation, personal services, and entertainment.
Minorities Hurt Most
During the COVID-19 shutdowns, African‐Americans experienced the largest losses nationwide, eliminating 41% of active business owners. Hispanic Americans also experienced major losses. Immigrant business owners suffered a large drop of 36% in business activity, and female business owners suffered a disproportionate drop of 25%.
Lower Class Workers Suffer
Those employed in the most at-risk industries represent one in four private sector workers in our state. This population earns 40% less than the national average and is more likely to be minority, young, and have less education.
Band-Aids aren't solutions
When the economy is forced to shut down, it comes with a huge economic cost to business owners and members of the labor force. This, in turn, creates an excessive burden on the welfare system and costs taxpayers billions of dollars.
How We Fix It
The government should not decide which businesses are essential and which are not.
Each business represents a number of people who are trying to make ends meet, and all of them are essential. It’s time to reevaluate the power the state has in emergency situations and ensure that it is balanced with protecting the rights of Tennesseans. The government’s role should always be to educate the population, set best practices, and provide resources for people to flourish. Lockdowns are a policy with virtually no precedent throughout our history and have effectively caused a recession or (according to some) a depression. We must be smarter about our policy.
Disseminate Accurate Information
Government is tasked with informing the public of the nature of a crisis and the risks associated with it. With accurate information, businesses can properly assess the risk and react accordingly.
Protect Businesses from the State and Feds
The state and federal governments both claim jurisdiction and legal standing to be able to mandate a shutdown. With that in consideration, we seek legislation that addresses the power of both.
Stop Enforcement
Tennessee authorities should not participate in the enforcement of any shutdown decree. Law enforcement should not be used in a way that deprives people of their livelihood, and increases the burden on the taxpayer.