2019 Minnesota Policy Platform

At the heart of Minnesota’s prosperity are strong communities with thriving local businesses, a vibrant workforce, and smart public investments where communities support the local businesses and the local businesses support the communities.  A 21st century development strategy requires looking to tactics that support the workforce, a strong culture of entrepreneurship and the growth of small, local businesses.

Main Street Alliance of Minnesota’s 2019 State Policy Platform focuses on strategies that target support for small businesses and their employees in acknowledgment of the interdependent relationship between a community’s economic and environmental health and the success of the small businesses that bring their cities, towns, and communities together. In addition, many of these strategies are equalizers that will enable smaller “main street” businesses to better compete with larger businesses.

Core Areas of Work

• Health Care Reform
• Public Investment in Main Street Businesses and Local Economies
• Quality Jobs
• Economic Development for Main Street Businesses
• Inclusion for Immigrants

Current Minnesota Campaigns

Health Care

Health Care Reform: The high cost of health care is creating an increasing strain on businesses, families, and our state budget. We need to strengthen and improve the Affordable Care Act for individuals and small businesses.  We support legislation to allow individuals and small businesses to buy into MinnesotaCare as an additional, public health insurance option.

Tax Fairness and Boosting Investments

Investment in our Communities: It's now time to invest in strategies that lead to broader prosperity and allow all Minnesotans to fully participate in the economic recovery. Budget choices should prioritize items that benefit everyday Minnesotans across the state. These investments will pay off by building the quality workforce and high standard of living that have been the keystones of Minnesota's economic success. 

Child Care: Main Street Alliance of Minnesota recognizes an important relationship between a stable, supported workforce and accessible, affordable, high quality child care.  Child care is a cornerstone of ensuring a healthy economy. Investments should be increased in affordable childcare options and flexible funding streams. 

You can also support our Federal Child Care for Working Families Act Campaign.

Housing: Housing is an integral part of Minnesota’s economy and a key workforce retention tool for employers and the state. Main Street Alliance of Minnesota supports efforts to expand housing options, making it more realistic for Minnesotans to stay in or return to Minnesota. With smart partnerships, planning, and investments, we can build and retrofit energy-efficient housing that is affordable and close to workplaces, transportation options and downtowns.

Quality Jobs

Paid Family and Medical Leave: Main Street Alliance of Minnesota supports the establishment of a statewide, publicly-administered, family and medical leave insurance program. A statewide insurance program will level the playing field for small “main street” businesses and make Minnesota more affordable for and attractive to young professionals and working families. 

• Read our 2019 Minnesota Paid Family and Medical Leave Storybook
• You can also support our Federal FAMILY Act campaign.

Retirement Security: Main Street Alliance of Minnesota recommends that the state establish a public retirement option and make it available to all those employed by businesses that do not currently offer access to a privately administered retirement plan. Many small business owners do not currently have or provide a retirement plan to their employees. The public option should be accessible to sole proprietors, small business owners, and their employees.

Earned Sick and Safe Time: Main Street Alliance of Minnesota recommends statewide legislation to ensure all Minnesotans have access to a basic level of accrued sick and safe time.

• We support a common sense, practical, and regional approach to earned sick and safe time in Minneapolis, St.Paul, Duluth, and across the State. 
• The law should create a baseline standard that applies to all businesses and creates a level playing field for businesses who already provide comprehensive leave packages. 
• Read our 2016 report: "The Bottom Line on Earned Sick Time"
• You can also support our Federal Healthy Families Act Campaign

Members in the News

Life in America's Child Care Deserts, by Sarah Piepenburg	Over a quarter century later, unpaid leave law is not enough to support small businesses by Dan Swenson-Klatt	Our small businesses support Gov. Walz's budget-and-tax direction  by Danny Schwartzman and Joel Vikre

GET INVOLVED! Share Your Story, Donate, and Sign Up for our Issue Core Teams on Healthcare, Taxes, Childcare, and Quality Jobs

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