I’ve written and narrated a video called THE CRISIS ON MAIN STREET: How Washington Continues to Ignore Small Businesses that I hope will give Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs a common voice and common purpose as we get ready to cast our votes in the mid-term elections.
When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was enacted by Congress in February of 2009, a mere 0.899% of the funds were directed toward helping Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs. Despite the fact that the Small Business sector employs over 50% of the American population, Big Business and Wall Street got most of the attention from our government during the “Great Recession” (and continues to do so). The outcome of the upcoming elections will have a HUGE impact on the future of many Small Businesses, and will likely dictate when and how our economy fully recovers.
Now that you’ve watched THE CRISIS ON MAIN STREET, I have just three small requests:
1) We are asking that voters who are in favor of job creation make their presence widely known during the mid-term elections. Ask your candidates to expressly state their opinion on small business lending reform, and only vote for those who will loosen the restrictive reins that are hampering job creation in our country. Candidates who do not list small business job creation as a key part of their platform do not deserve your support.
2) Leave a comment below to let me know what you think. I’m extremely curious to read what you think about this video and the upcoming elections. If you agree with me, great. If not, I want to hear your side of things, too. This is a place to voice your opinion, and I want all sides heard so that we get the best people in office (regardless of party affiliation).
3) Please (Pretty Please) forward this video to everyone you know. You can send them the link to this blog, or to our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/504loanexperts). I don’t care how they see it; I just want as many people as possible to see it before Election Day on November 2nd. Our economy just might depend on it…
Many thanks!
Tags: Commercial Real Estate Loans, Congress, Entrepreneurs, Mercantile Capital Corporation, November Election, Politics, SBA 504, Small business, US Economy
Ron Aguilar says:
this is well produced and very newsworthy. Great Job!!
Papa Gator says:
I think you have it figured out very well. I enjoyed the segment. I have tried to get help to start a business and have run into so many roadblocks that I have throttled my desires. The area I live in America is having a hard time accepting these ideas. I’m in the capital city of Florida and the politics are very thick with nothing being done to improve the lot of the small business.
Sherril C. says:
I think it is just horrible how the government manipulates the small businesses of this country. That is one of the many reasons I have no faith in the “American Dream” vision that they say exists here. I had a really great and strong business in the early part of this new century and I took all of my required documents to the sba department.
this business should’ve been approved for funding but wasn’t hence my business did not survive.
Howard Levine says:
The new law does not seem to be encouraging Banks to fund start up Dry Cleaners, a true “Main Street” enterprise. We continue the constant search for Lenders. Working with Tony Zara on a possible 504. He a real pro.
Hal Hoadley says:
Chris, Well said and I have posted this on FB, Twitter and would like to put it up on my blog, http://www.fixingmyfollowup.com for all my subscribers to see. I’m helping small business to survive by working with them on their online marketing.
Thank you for doing the homework and putting this up on you tube.
Sue Bridges says:
Great article!!
Mike Miget says:
Regarding your video, I like it very much. I especially like it’s “tone” — it’s not a hostile rant from a seemingly crazy person, nor is it an obvious plug for some private interest (like marketing). It doesn’t look like you are trying to “sell” anything.
It gives facts and logical reasons, and is well thought-out…people like that. I think it has a good chance to go viral and I hope it does.
Nice job.
Eric Ondrick says:
Nice work Chris! Very good stuff and I appreciate you being a voice for small business.
Jim Rowe says:
Chris,
This is great summary. Even in this economy, many small businesses think they stand alone and that their problems are unique.
You need to write a few more before the election. Our vote for small business issues is a sure fire way to unite.
Thank you.
Jim
Elaine says:
Hello Chris,
The blog and video were great. There is only one thing that many of us are trying to overcome. What do you do when you have a small business that is now doing well but in the past you had to use your own property for additional loans and then get behind in your personal finances causing bad credit scores. We are the people that do things by the book, yet cannot get the needed help. If everyone that opened a small business did exceptionally well, there would not be so many going out of business. They are everywhere. How can you help the people that have exhausted all of their own individual credit?
Angela Siegel says:
I love your emails. Is there anything specific in the polls we should know about?
Lena Gandhi says:
I have a so much respect for you ,you are doing very good thing for people . and i am very sure that you will make a goal.
John Kropf says:
Chris . . . watched the video, it was awesome !!!
Gary Rudsinski says:
Nice job on the video. If Bernie Madoff was put in jail for his ponzy scheme, how does the gov’t. get by doing the same thing? Spend more money, raise taxes, spend more money etc., etc. etc. Over the years it’s been proven that lowering taxes will help the economy, not by raising taxes. I read an article in a book that if we reduce the debt by a dollar for every second of the day, it would take 32,000 years to pay off the debt!
Bring on the Tea Party!!
Ron Reeser says:
Thanks for the good work you are doing. Attached you will find the business plan of a company we launched to directly help with the crises on main street… I would be interested in your comments . . .
Jimmy Vee says:
Great stuff Chris.
Mitchell Fogel says:
Just saw it on YouTube. Excellent!!!
Larry Breen says:
Wow! You knocked that one out of the park! Right on point and very well done. Way to go Chris! Chris for President!
Sally Hogshead says:
Chris — outstanding piece! I’ll be passing along. Thank you for sending this. Valuable as always.
Mitchell Baxter says:
You’re a modern day John Galt.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Larry, but let’s not get too carried away . . .
Nigel Worrall says:
Good job Chris… now all we need is someone in power who has the courage of their convictions …
Darin Spindler says:
Nice video Chris!
Richard Falls says:
What a great illustration of how things went versus how they could have gone had our elected officials had a clue as to what works.
Brandon McGough says:
That was an excellent video!
Donna Loader says:
excellent – I appreciate your leadership in these arenas. Also your most interesting commercial lender spot is awesome. Do some more.
Chris Hurn says:
I may do some more when I get some more time next month. Thanks, Donna.
Rich Butler says:
Now over 24,000 views. Important message for entrepreneurs!
Mike Johnson says:
Great Nation! LOL I don’t know anymore about this country Chris.
Michelle Affinito says:
Thank you for the information Chris, we have been talking with our financial institutions about sba504. If we need any assistance in this area and with loans we will be sure to keep you in mind.
Brian Ludlow says:
FANTASTIC! Did you do that Chris?
Chris Hurn says:
I wrote it, edited it, and narrated it, but the graphics were outsourced – I made suggestions of what to use, but I couldn’t whip-up a motion-graphics video if my life depended on it.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Michelle. Just keep in mind that SBA 504 loans are ALL we do, unlike most financial institutions, and I’d humbly submit to you that we’re the best around. Take care and keep in touch.
Vinny Muratore says:
Looked good, the only thing missing was me.
Toby Milroy says:
Well done, and well said!
If you don’t mind, I’ll share with the Martial Arts School owners in our industry.
Keep up all the great work you all do!!
Chris Hurn says:
Please share. Thanks. By the way, we’re about to finance our 4th martial arts school in the past 2 years… so somebody listened to me in Tampa a few years ago.
John Andrews says:
Chris great video and keep up the good fight.
Rob McCormack says:
Great observations on the people in Washington and government in general not understanding business methods and requirements. Everything is geared toward PACs, special interest groups, large trade organizations,etc…
Small business owners work harder, are more diligent, more dedicated to their work and genuinely concerned about their communities, schools and living conditions for themselves and their employees.
We will never be able to “stimulate” our way out of this. Small business owners are reluctant to borrow and hire or expand simply because they lack confidence in the economy and any of the spending programs that are propping it up.
Alan Davidson says:
Great video. I do however have some comments.
One, while the power, reach and heft of the Federal Government effects (either positively or negatively), the small business community, we live in a Republic.
The States dictate how small business friendly they will be and one has to look no further than the State of California to see how State legislatures hamper (or halt entirely), the growth of small business.
The current administration is anti small business despite the talking points, “lip-service”, and small incentives they have dispersed in the Bills you mentioned.
The big elephant in the room is that the current administration was errant in it’s promise to shun big lobbyists and special interests. The current administration is pro government growth, pro union, and pro public sector. It is anti small, private sector business and the recent attack (one of many during the last two years), on the Chamber of Commerce is testament to this fact.
“Right to work” legislation should be embraced by every state in our Republic. Minimum wage laws should be reconsidered given the immense unemployment of the very folks it was supposed to benefit, namely, the young and minorities.
Our corporate tax structure is oppressive to small business. While big businesses like Google and Microsoft can end up with an effective tax rate of 2.5% using various tactics by their astute and highly paid accounting and legal staff, small businesses bear the high corporate tax rate burden.
All the ideas in this video will work. We need to vote “bottom up” from the local and State legislature and all the way up the food chain. Remember, a certain Governor in California thought he could change things until he has handcuffed by the Legislature in Sacramento and forced to fall in line. Not every State has a Chris Christie at the helm.
VOTE!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks Alan for your kind words toward us and for your considered words about the situation we find ourselves in. I don’t really disagree with much you’ve said. One clarification, however: I’ve always thought that “minimum wage” should be renamed “starter wage,” since that’s what it’s supposed to be. Even the wording, itself, is screwy and wrong.
Alan Davidson says:
Keep up the good fight! Champions of small business are what is sorely needed at this time in our Country. The current traffic to our website http://www.businessfinance.com is testament to the need for businesses looking for much needed capital in this hostile anti-small business climate.
Jeff Douglas says:
A very well done video. Message is spot on.
Deb Sefcik says:
Thanks Chris, the video is great and I have shared with all my clients and others. Many blessing to you for taking the time to get this message out
Arne McDaniel says:
Did you do the video? Is this your own production? It is well done.
Eugene Lopin says:
I shared it via FB and twitter.
Jeff Loveski says:
Unfortunately there are more important things to the future of our civilization than a growing economy and jobs. Until the masses figure that out, we are all in terminal dire straits.
Chris Hurn says:
I think people need jobs to cover their basic needs (food, water, shelter, etc.) FIRST… then they can focus on social issues.
Sergio Calzado says:
Your video and blog post has been posted at:
http://theworstnamesinnews.blogspot.com/
you can also find it under the video section, hope this helps.
Philip Lelle says:
Awesome vid! I’m all for this. Forwarding on…
Woody Davis says:
I’m not even a tax payer and I found this enlightening.
Michael Gravette says:
Great video Chris.
Betty Wykoff says:
Thank you Chris . . I’ve posted this on my facebook page . . it will be interesting to see what kind of feedback I receive. it’s too bad that our news reporters never seem to ask the candidates where they stand on assisting the small business owner . we seem to be forgotten. Even fox news rarely addresses this crisis. Once again, thank you for your efforts.
Larry Nannis says:
Unless you have checked everyone that you have sent this to, you may not know that as chair of the National Small Business Association, I am impressed with what you have done.
I appreciate the thrust of the video and agree with the theme.
Although my clients are not presently looking to do 504s, I appreciate your keeping me on your mailing list Thanks for your effort.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for the kind words, Larry. We have tens of thousands on our lists, so you’re correct: I don’t know everyone who gets this information. Take care and keep us in mind in the future.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for all your help and the kind words, Betty.
Patrick Consing says:
Chris… This video is great!
David R. Newby says:
Great video, Chris! I just made a MUSIC video speaking on personal finance aspects of the recession and am launching it tomorrow. Great job getting so many video views!!
Scott Tucker says:
You had me at “0.899%”.
Chris Hurn says:
Of course I did, Scott.
John P David says:
Fun video on how to fix the economy . . . Reminds me of Schoolhouse Rock.
Ginger Bratzel says:
Yaaahhhhh!!!
Nina Hershberger says:
Great job on the video, Chris.
Dan Allen says:
Great points and well done. Vote for small business.
Alan Battin says:
Well produced video that does a good job of presenting your point of view in a subtle, yet effective way. I don’t agree with all of your points and think that your facts may be slightly skewed to help support your cause. But I prefer this… type of message vs. the negative mudslinging rhetoric that is polluting the media throughout this campaign season, and has no solutions to our problems. Your message is well thought out and well delivered. Question – are you taking into account programs that have an indirect, yet significant impact on small business into your equations? For example in my industry, Cash For Clunkers was a stimulus program that sunk nearly 3 billion in “rebates” to the consumer which resulted in nearly 700,000 in vehicle sales over a couple of months. Those were sales made by small business owners (car dealers) that led to record profits for most of them during that time period. Not to mention generated tax revenues for their communities, etc, etc. Many people mark this event as “turning the corner” to recovery in our industry. Just curious of you were taking that sort of stimulus into account.
Chris Hurn says:
You’re correct, I could have done like they do on TV and just ranted, but I don’t find that’s very effective — glad we agree and that there’s still some civilized people left.
Alan – To your point: even IF I take into account the $3 billion or …so for the “Cash for Clunkers” as a “stimulus” (which is kind of like burning down every 3rd home in America to “stimulate” the home construction industry), it STILL amounts to mere peanuts compared to what was provided to Big Business and Wall Street. So maybe we disagree on the merits — if it was basically transfer payments versus true stimulus — but we probably still agree that in the grand scheme of things, it (combined with all else) was pitiful and much more (and targeted) should have been done.
Alan Battin says:
I certainly don’t disagree with your point that a lot more could have, and should be done for small business. My point (and just using the clunkers as an example), is that in some circumstances the “stimulus” went a lot further than what was on the surface. I can assure you that many of the stores I work with are seeing that $4500 go a lot further (service retention, referral business, etc).
Izigg Atlanta says:
I’ll help too =)
Amy Bobbitt says:
Love it.
Warren Davis says:
Thanks for your help – I enjoy your video and postings!
Mickey Spencer says:
Thanks for sharing this with me Chris!
Don Mason says:
THANKS FOR TELLING IT LIKE IT IS ! Every small business owner should take time to listen to this ASAP !
Scott Parker says:
this an absolute awesome Video.. I am all for it.. Good Job..
Owen Garratt says:
This is fantastic! You can be very proud of this…
I agree with you on all points.
Perry Marshall says:
I posted this on FB the other day – good stuff!
Martin Maybruck says:
CRAZY!!! that’s why I’ve dedicated most of my time to helping local businesses with local lead gen…they are so lost
Jim Bryant says:
besides the “stimulus” the Fed has created 2 TRILLION in funny money and fed it to the big banks at near zero pct interest.
They sit on it and earn 3% from the Fed so why lend it out ?
Paul Harvey says:
I am in the Uk but my sense of these things is that banks rule the world Check out the “Robin Hood Tax” it could change everything but it needs the big nations to get behind it.
Michael Hiles says:
Why should they make loans when they can borrow funds at 0% and then buy treasury bonds at 2%, risk free?
Shelley Ellis says:
Impressive numbers that made total sense. How come “we” seem to be the only people that relate to what he’s saying?
Nate Hurn says:
Good video and even better message. Just read through all of the comments also. Gotta love the dem’s trying to justify these so-called “stimulus programs” that still have us at record unemployment, record low on housing market, etc.
Keep up your message. Run for office and I’ll handle your military and VA issues…
Benjamin McKay says:
This is great. Thank you. I need to get this to the Hill.
Pete Kici says:
Great video,
I am sending it out to my group.
Kris Murray says:
The Crisis on Main Street…one of the best videos I’ve seen in a long time. Great job Chris & MCC!!
Jay Yurkiewicz says:
50,000 hits in less than 1 week!!! I suggest you see it!…Great stuff, Chris!
Brian Lee Fricke says:
Finally…a simple, easy to understand explanation of why small businesses are still struggling. Not from a politician, but from a small business owner who advises other small business owners.
Watch this 7min. video even if you aren’t a business owner. It has a ripple effect to all of us.
Bob Cockerham says:
Best Video I have seen in some time
THIS IS A MUST SEE!!!
Get out and vote and send the message , Start listen to us or be prepaired to GET VOTED OUT! !!! Dispite the party we will send you packing!!!!!!!
Peter Salinas says:
Well stated!
Gary Campbell says:
Thanks.
Melissa Edge Fite says:
Awesome video made by Chris Hurn, founder and CEO of the company I work for. Check it out!
Hal Hoadley says:
My friend and CO-GKIC member, Chris Hurn is CEO of Mercantile Capital Corp has a message to all business owners in the USA. Listen to what he has to say before the elections on November 2nd. Make an informed decision. Thanks Chris
Dave says:
That is really cool . . . you could be a DJ too!!!
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks, Dave! I don’t know quite what to say… speechless…
Tom Sullivan says:
I just viewed your YouTube video, ”The Crisis on Main Street.” It was well done. However, I am unclear about your reference to H.R. 5297. The video indicates that the legislation stalled. It was signed into law 2-months ago (in less than 4-months from introduction to signature).
Chris Hurn says:
It was signed into law 1 month and 1 day ago. Many of the provisions have been “talked” about for many months, if not years (I’ve spoken about 504 refi’s since 2004). All of it came way too late. Many provisions (504 refi, for instance) still aren’t clear. Additionally, I wrote the script in early July. My overall point is that they’ve taken far too long to help such an important sector of our recovery. No wonder the recovery is slow at best!
Manish Adhiya says:
Check this video out! Made by a friend of mine in franchising, but can apply to all (small) business ventures! Thanks, Chris.
Dennis Haverty says:
I’ve watched your video – really sad the stimulate funds were a drip in the bucket for small businesses.
Greg Prestemon says:
Nicely done video, very persuasive. Whoever wrote and produced it has a real gift.
I am confused about one thing, though. What is an example of small business being vilified? I agree that small business has been given only lip service and deserves to be at the center of an economic recovery strategy. I would call that an attitude of willful indifference, but not hostility. But I truly don’t see where the vilification is happening.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for your comments, Greg. Small business, per se, hasn’t been vilified; I said that the profit-motive has been. Leadership in Washington has been increasingly hostile to business and the profit-motive over the past couple of years. Just Google “Washington Bashes Business” or “President anti-business?” or other variations to see examples. Some of the comments that have been made in the past 18 months are truly shocking and haven’t been as well-publicized as they should be. And yes, there IS “willful indifference” toward small business, as you say, but there’s also an increasing hostility to the good that businesses (overall) can play in our society — that was one of the points I was making. We cut out about another 4 minutes of footage (due to YouTube’s strict adherence to shorter videos) that would have gone more into this subject. I wrote it, edited it, and narrated it, by the way, so I take full responsibility for anything “wrong” with it.
Greg Prestemon says:
chris: As I said before, I think your message was compelling. While I certainly agree that Democrats as a whole are at least tone deaf and often just plain wrong when it comes to business policy, I truly hadn’t heard anybody bashing small business specifically. I was just wondering.
Seriously, your video was excellent and clear, and I appreciate the work and the risk that comes from putting yourself out there for criticism. Our basic assumptions about the economy are somewhat different but I agree that investment in small and mid-sized business growth is most of the solution to the toughest problems we face. Keep up the good communicating.
Bill Beahan says:
Obama hates small business because there are too may of them and require too much effort to bring under his fascist control.
Kerry Schultz says:
Great video ,Please watch!!!
Deborah Lay Bennett says:
The Progressives believe only in BIG government…not small business! They believe in “collective success”. so….Individual success, The American Dream, is unfair to the rest of the world so….gotta go!
Jay Dyson says:
I’m sorry, but 0bama is not “ignoring” small business. He’s going out of his way to completely and utterly destroy small business in this nation!
Reid Albee says:
I could not have said it better myself Jay.
Janie Baker says:
Chris, thank you! This was excellent!
Frank Steed says:
Thanks Chris, good job!
Luis Cedrez says:
Excellent. Definitely behind you on this.
Donald Nguyen says:
Thank you very much, this is the best clip I ever heard. My family have 7 voters will follow your direction and will vote tomorrow.
If you don’t mind, I am sending this clip to Bill O’reilly and Glenn Beck @ Foxnew.com.
Thanks again for your expertise.
Chris Hurn says:
Thank you for the kind words. Feel free to do with the clip whatever you’d like. Take care.
Marlene Peasley says:
I just finished watching your video and was hoorahing all the way through. It is awe-inspiring that someone of your stature and reputation is speaking out for the good of the nation and small business. I applaud your comments and am in 100% agreement. This video was so well done that even I who am not a financial guru or even close could understand everything you were espousing. To think I almost deleted your e-mail without watching the video.
Chris Hurn says:
Thanks for the kind words, Marlene. I try to do what I can.
Sheila Spangler says:
Great blog post. Keep up the good work and the rallying cry for small business owners.
Sheila Spangler says:
Great video blog post. You are right on. I am doing what I can. I’ve written to my representatives and even the President (not that he’ll listen). And further more, I voted today for those I believe support small business.
I think we need term limits for representatives. Maybe that would eliminate a lot of the “good old boy” stuff.
All the best,
Sheila