NAWBO-LA Online Newsletter
April 2008 Issue
BizFed Brings Advocacy Tools to NAWBO-LA Members
New grassroots business alliance provides effective resources to mobilize the collective voice of the Los Angeles business community, including women business owners
 With NAWBO-LA’s role as a founding member of the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) – a new large-scale, grassroots alliance of regional business organizations – women business owners now have new tools at their disposal to communicate instantaneously with decision-makers and effectively advocate to create a better economic and political environment for their firms.
Launched in late January, BizFed already represents 47 business organizations with about 82,000 business owners and 1.3 million employees within Los Angeles County. BizFed’s e-mail action alerts – issued when a majority of member organizations agree on the need for them – enable those tens of thousands of business owners to receive real-time vital information and with just a couple clicks online contact elected officials to make their voices heard.
It’s the likelihood of so many business owners responding in a rapid timeframe that brings the ability to yield “real results,” said BizFed CEO Tracy Rafter. “It gives you a greater return on your time and attention investment. It’s empowering to know your single action is a part of a bigger movement.”
She added, “Strength in numbers is really the biggest point of BizFed.”
The Power of One Voice
This new partnership offers an added benefit to NAWBO-LA members as the organization further enhances its advocacy on critical issues that affect the region’s economic vitality and quality of life. With the BizFed alliance, NAWBO-LA – which understands the importance of being part of the political process by transforming and influencing public policy – can offer members greater and more streamlined access to critical information needed to project the voice and perspective of women-owned businesses.
At the event to introduce BizFed, NAWBO-LA CEO Helen Han explained, “We believe that BizFed is an organization that represents the diverse interests of ALL businesses. BizFed shares NAWBO-LA’s desire to transform public policy and influence opinion makers through the projection of ONE VOICE.”
Han also said, “And most importantly, BizFed allows the small business owner – that would otherwise not be engaged in the political process – to stand on a level playing field as an effective agent for change for the benefit of the business community at large. BizFed’s commitment to improving the quality of life for small business owners and our employees creates a natural nexus between the two organizations.”
 Issues Voiced By Membership
Before officially launching, BizFed conducted a survey of its founding organizations’ members, including NAWBO-LA, to identify their key areas of concern. The top issues voiced by membership included:
- Reducing commuting time,
- Curbing crime and gang activity, and
- Conducting K-12 education reform.
The survey also found that more than 61% of BizFed member businesses are small firms with just one to 19 employees, which gives small businesses the opportunity to have an equal say with their larger counterparts in advocacy efforts.
“Our economy is at a critical juncture where Los Angeles is at risk of losing jobs from both small businesses and large alike,” Rafter said. “We can’t stand by and let that happen. From job retention and creation, to increasing investment in critical infrastructure and necessary services to create a better sense of community, BizFed businesses will be an active part of every discussion.”
To learn more about BizFed, visit http://bizfed.org. Also access BizFed and other information about NAWBO-LA’s advocacy initiatives at www.nawbola.org/advocacy.
Leaders Lend Voices to BizFed
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger:
“The momentum for this new business coalition is fantastic. A vibrant economy begins with a job. By creating jobs and growing the economy, the Los Angeles County Business Federation will be setting the stage to effect immeasurable improvements in transportation, education, health care and crime prevention in California. I congratulate all its member organizations for coming together to help build and expand our economy.”
Biz Fed Chairman David Fleming:
“We believe that a strong business community, which creates jobs and keeps our economy growing, benefits everyone – business and working families alike. Our priority will be to support and advocate for strong economic policies which incentivize Los Angeles businesses to stay here, expand here and to attract new companies to bring their jobs to our backyard.”
Tim McCallion, Chairman of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce:
“A key component of BizFed’s outreach will be their groundbreaking creation of highly powerful web tools. These web tools and action alerts allow BizFed members to communicate their opinions instantaneously to decision-makers from throughout the region and provide them with the most information about elected officials and their districts.”
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