Federal Funding Alert: SCORE Advocates for Maintaining Current Allocation in Face of Potential Budget Plan Jeopardy
Title: Sound the Alarm - SCORE Warns of Small Business Crisis
Are you a small business owner? Buckle up, because things just got serious. SCORE, a national treasure trove of business mentors, has issued an emergency plea to our lawmakers. They're facing the chopping block - their funding's on the line! Why's this important? 'Cause this ol' organization helps out hundreds of thousands of us small boffins every year!
SCORE’s been around for 61 years - and without that federal support? Boom! Over 300,000 small business owners and entrepreneurs nationwide might lose their lifeline.
“Enough is enough - America’s small business success story is on the edge of a cliff!” warns Bridget Weston, SCORE's CEO. “Cutting this funding isn't just a numbers game - it's a heavyweight punch to our local economies and small business community.”
SCORE's currently getting $17 million in federal dough, but check this out - for every dollar they get, they generate a whopping $45.42 in new federal tax revenue! Talk about a good investment! But take it away, and it ain’t just entrepreneurs who’ll feel the burn - local economies and government revenues will holler, too!
In 2024 alone, SCORE volunteers got busy, launching 59,447 new small businesses, creating 143,623 jobs, and clocking in 4 million hours of mentoring and training. Now here's the kicker - they do all that with 10,000 volunteers donating their time and business smarts!
So, why’s SCORE so damn important? Because, when it comes to small business success, they've been the icing on the cake. From financing to HR to marketing, SCORE's been the guiding light for many businesses like the Thompson Tees, who credit SCORE with helping them stay in business.
SCORE’s help comes in many flavors, from one-on-one mentoring to workshops and webinars, and even valuable resources like templates, tools, and guides. Got a local chapter nearby? Even better! You get access to in-person networking and support that's hard to find elsewhere.
"SCORE has been pivotal in helping us navigate the ups and downs of business," says Billy Thompson, co-owner of Thompson Tee. "Their mentors have hooked us up with everything from banking to marketing gurus. Without ‘em, we wouldn’t be here today."
But here's where it gets really dark - if our lawmakers axe SCORE's funding, they'll be saying sayonara to free expert mentoring and support, reduced new business creation and job growth, targeted support for veterans and other specialized groups, local access and networking opportunities, and a substantial economic return on investment.
Sound the alarm, folks! Small businesses are hanging by a thread here, and we need to act fast! Let's rally SCORE's nation-wide network of small business owners, mentors, and advocates to reach out to our Congress peeps and demand that they keep SCORE's funding intact.
"Speak up now - protect SCORE, protect small businesses!" They're right! Take action, y'all! It's time to make some noise!
Small business owners are at risk of losing a vital lifeline if SCORE's federal funding gets cut. SCORE's assistance, from financing to mentoring, contributes significantly to the success of small businesses across the nation, creating jobs and generating substantial economic returns.
