🏬 Backing Main Street

On Main Streets across Iowa, small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They make up 99% of all Iowa businesses and employ nearly half of our workforce. Why it matters: In rural Iowa, jobs don’t just show up — they’re built from the ground up by hardworking entrepreneurs. And when a small business grows, the whole community thrives. The Problem: Right now, rural job creators are hitting roadblocks. Rising interest rates, inflation, and red tape are making it harder than ever to get the capital they need to hire and expand. Zoom out: The USDA’s Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program (RMAP) was meant to help. But the program hasn’t kept pace—with loan caps stuck below real project costs and red tape slowing everything down. The solution: We just introduced the bipartisan Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Act to: ✅ Raise loan limits to reflect today’s startup and expansion costs ✅ Cut red tape that blocks access to capital ✅ Expand support for construction, retail, and rural main street improvements ✅ Keep the program running through 2030 for long-term certainty Bottom Line: Iowa’s small business owners don’t need more paperwork—they need a fair shot to succeed. Our bill cuts through red tape and connects rural entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow and thrive.