Local businesses are the heartbeat of our communities.
Small business owners are doing everything right — working hard, hiring locally, and giving back — but rising costs and political decisions in Madison have made it harder to stay afloat.

The Problem

Too often, state leaders reward the biggest corporations while overlooking the people who actually drive our local economy. The Manufacturing and Agriculture Tax Credit costs our state nearly $400 million every year, but most of that money goes to millionaires and out-of-state corporations. Meanwhile, small business owners in places like Appleton, Hortonville, and Greenville are left fighting to keep the lights on.

Health insurance costs continue to rise in part because Republican leaders have refused to expand BadgerCare, leaving small employers and self-employed workers without affordable options. At the same time, workforce challenges are growing. The legislature has repeatedly failed to provide sufficient resources to Wisconsin’s technical colleges, limiting their ability to grow and modernize. While bills to expand apprenticeship opportunities exist, partisan roadblocks and inconsistent funding have slowed progress. Rural and small business communities still struggle to access the training and skilled workforce they need.

Even basics like broadband remain a struggle. Rural and suburban businesses are still being left behind by short-term grant programs and political gridlock instead of real, long-term investment.

What I’ll Do

I’ll work to level the playing field for local businesses by:

• Shifting tax incentives toward small and mid-sized employers who actually create local jobs.

• Expanding BadgerCare and creating options for small business owners to access affordable healthcare.

• Reinvesting in technical colleges and apprenticeship programs so young people can build careers close to home.

• Supporting broadband buildout that finally reaches the last mile in rural communities.

• Simplifying state grants and permits so small businesses can grow without getting buried in paperwork.

• Prioritizing “Buy Wisconsin” initiatives that keep contracts, materials, and profits here at home.

Why It Matters

Small businesses are where kids get their first jobs, where neighbors gather, and where our local pride comes from. When Madison writes rules that favor the biggest corporations, it’s the people on Main Street who pay the price.

We can build a stronger, fairer Wisconsin economy that rewards work, not wealth. When small businesses thrive, our communities thrive.