by Region 7 Advocate, Darcella Craven
Over the summer the Office of Advocacy (Advocacy) conducted several in-person listening sessions as they toured the United States. Assistant Chief Counsels Bruce Lundegren, David Mullis, and Shanerika Fleming and Regional Affairs Director Will Purcell toured with Regional Advocate Darcella Craven to Kearney, Nebraska; Manhattan, Kansas; and Kansas City, Missouri.
Mullis presented on Broadband and 5G implementation and potential funding and US Patent and Trademark Office Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Intellectual Property. Lundgren presented on OSHA Emergency Responder and Volunteer Fire Fighter Proposed rule. Reyes joined virtually and presented on Department of Labor Independent Contractor and Overtime rules.
Attorneys filing comments later this year found the variety and types of comments addressed by the community to be helpful. Most of the small business owners had similar concerns and suggestions on the issues that were discussed.
The participants in Kearney, Nebraska, were made up of mostly volunteer firefighters, city managers, and fire chiefs, who were concerned about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Emergency Responder and Volunteer Fire Fighter proposed rules. They shared their concerns about the time constraints on volunteers, the lack of funding to purchase new equipment and fire trucks, and the unnecessary burden of paperwork on smaller community firehouses. They stressed their concern that while they agreed with safety for all involved, implementing these regulations is not feasible for many smaller community firehouses.
Participants at the Manhattan, Kansas venue were deeply concerned about OSHA issues and 5G and broadband expansion. Kansas small businesses and legislative representatives expressed concern with the lack of proper broadband and cell coverage that can hinder the successful growth of small businesses.
Attendees were specifically concerned for the agricultural communities and their inability to have the latest technology or the means to use it effectively. After the presentation in Manhattan, Assistant Chief Counsel Mullis headed to Hays, Kansas, and met with a small telecommunications company and continued a discussion on broadband and 5G implementation.
The listening sessions continued in Kanas City, Missouri (KCMO) where small businesses there also expressed concerns about OSHA and broadband rules. However, in Kansas City, the expressed main concerns were overtime rules, wage and earnings and general business problems. Other participants at the event included small business owners of firms less than five years old and were eager to learn how Advocacy assisted small businesses.
The Small Business Administration’s Omaha and Wichita district offices also attended and provided resources to the attendees. This was a great opportunity for Advocacy’s newest Assistant Chief Counsel Shanerika Fleming and Regional Affairs Director Will Purcell to hear directly from small businesses and witness how outreach is conducted in the region. The Advocacy team drove over 700 miles from July 15th to the 17th with Purcell and Craven stopping in smaller communities along the road to introduce Advocacy to the local small businesses.
The Advocacy’s Team last stop was at The Porter House KC, a super-impressive small business incubator. “This was fantastic information,” stated Tracy Bentley, founder of a patient advocate health tech app in Kansas City. “I never knew we had this level of advocacy in DC for us small businesses, while sitting here in KCMO living our lives and serving our communities. I feel more informed about what this office does for small entities.” Many small businesses from Kearney to Kansas City expressed similar sentiments.
Advocacy submitted comments on the OSHA Emergency Responder and Volunteer Fire Fighter Proposed rule on July 24, 2024, a few days after the tour, incorporating some of the feedback gained from the small business visits.
Darcella Craven currently serves as the Regional Advocate for Region 7 covering Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Kansas City. Please feel free to contact Darcella at Darcella.Craven@sba.gov and our other regional advocates to share your small business’s regulatory burdens or concerns.