Iowa Entrepreneurs Discuss Energy Efficiency, Extreme Weather's Impact on Small Business With Regional EPA Administrator

Washington, DC̢??‰۝Main Street Waterloo, in conjunction with small business organization Small Business Majority, hosted a roundtable discussion today between Iowa small employers and EPA Administrator for the Midwest Region Karl Brooks. The event gave Waterloo-area entrepreneurs a chance to engage in a candid conversation with EPA representatives and other small business leaders about the EPA̢??‰?s work promoting smart clean energy policies that can spur innovation, and help business owners save money and grow their companies.

̢???It̢??‰?s important for small business owners to tell the EPA how it can work hand-in-hand with small employers to further advance the clean energy economy and what they need from the agency to help them better adapt to climate change and the extreme weather events it̢??‰?s creating,̢???? said Jeff Kurtz, Executive Director of Main Street Waterloo. ̢???Addressing environmental issues is important for small businesses, and we were pleased to be part of such a productive discussion.̢????

Opinion polling released by Small Business Majority found small business owners believe climate change and the extreme weather it creates are an urgent problem that can disrupt the economy. The poll also found it is becoming increasingly common for small businesses to be impacted by extreme weather, with a third having seen extreme weather impact their business or someone around them. What̢??‰?s more, additional polling found small businesses support the EPA regulating carbon emissions from existing power plants and agree the government can play an important role in creating financial incentives that help small businesses take energy efficiency measures.

̢???Small businesses understand that to survive in this tough economy they need to innovate, and the EPA̢??‰?s work fostering strong energy efficiency standards will assist them in doing so by helping them save money in their own business and creating new market opportunities,̢???? said Mary Timmel, Midwest Outreach Manager for Small Business Majority. ̢???This event informed small business owners about the EPA's work promoting clean energy standards and gave employers a chance to tell the EPA how it can better work with them.̢????

To schedule a follow up interview with a small business owner who attended the event or a representative from Small Business Majority, contact Allison Abney at [email protected] or (202) 289-0957.