Rural job growth has still never quite recovered from the pandemic – and they're facing a loss of over 100,000 jobs, a number that can wreak havoc on rural areas that are so dependent on each and every good-paying job they generate.

But, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz just released their small business plan to help development and job recovery across the U.S., especially in underserved and rural communities.

In sharp contrast to Trump's Project 2025 agenda – which would likely raise consumer goods prices, raise taxes on working families, increase unemployment, increase our national debt, and send us back into a period of skyrocketing inflation – here's the Harris/Walz proposal:

• Significantly increase the small business tax deduction for start-up expenses from $5,000 to $50,000
• Call for a new goal of 25 million new small business applications during her first term, beating Joe Biden's previous record of 19 million applications
• Appoint ⅓ of federal contract dollars to go to small businesses by expanding contract opportunities for rural and other underserved small businesses
• Cut red tape for obtaining occupational licenses and incentivize state and local gov't to reduce burdensome small business regulations
• Simplify the system and provide a series of standard deductions for small businesses to file their taxes
• Launch a small business expansion fund to enable community banks and Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) to cover interest costs while small businesses are expanding or creating jobs

This is exactly what rural communities need and what rural voters are looking for in their leaders. No jargon, no lofty promises, just a real game plan that's going to get us from point A to point B.

This election is a choice between two very different economic visions: one that builds up the middle class versus one that helps billionaires and big corporations at working families' expense. This is a time for competence and compassion – and Harris and Walz are the only folks in this race who have it.

Tessa

Tessa Gould
Executive Director, One Country Project