AEO Members:

This message is to inform you that the Administration’s FY 2007 Budget Proposal once again recommends the termination of the SBA Microloan and PRIME Programs, along with significant cuts of $500,000 to Women’s Business Centers and $47 million to the CDFI Fund. This proposal is only a recommendation—the ultimate power to fund these valuable microenterprise programs lies in Congress! Over the next few months, AEO, with your help, will wage a fierce advocacy campaign to restore funding for the programs at the following levels:
 

$20 million for Microloan Lending
$17 million for Microloan Technical Assistance
$15 million for PRIME
$16 million for Women’s Business Centers
$80 million for the CDFI Fund

To take action today and send a message to Congress supporting federal funding for microenterprise—click here and enter your zip code in the Contact Congress box. You can choose to send one of three pre-written letters, which will be sent automatically to your Senators and Representative. Let’s start 2006 off strong by letting Congress hear about how important microenterprise development is to our nation’s communities!  Please link your organization’s website to the Entrepreneur Action Center section of AEO’s website, so that microentrepreneurs and other local supporters can write letters directly to Congress.  All members that make this link will be eligible to participate in a drawing for a valuable prize.  Please let us know when you have established the link.

Over the next several months, members should be ready to respond to different AEO advocacy requests that include writing emails, calling, faxing, and meeting with your Representatives and Senators in their districts. AEO will provide advocacy materials, pre-written letters, and detailed instructions on how to deliver our message effectively. AEO will take the lead advocating on Capitol Hill, attending Congressional hearings and coordinating in-person Hill meetings with key AEO members.

While unfortunately, this year once again poses major challenges, AEO is confident that, together with our members, we can make sure that microenterprise programs are preserved.  With your help, we have been victorious the last several years in restoring funding to each of our priority programs and with your help we will do so again this year.

If you have any questions regarding AEO Policy and Advocacy efforts, please feel free to contact Kevin Kelly (kkelly@assoceo.org) or Ross Kawakami (rkawakami@assoceo.org) or at 703.841.7760.