Davids, Local Leaders Work Out in Support of Kansas Small Businesses

SHAWNEE, KS– Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined local business leaders and other Kansans for a workout at EverFit to highlight her continued support for Kansas small businesses, including small gyms. Davids, a member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee, spoke about her work to help small businesses build on recent economic progress and overcome supply chain and labor challenges in 2024. Davids remains committed to leveraging the decline in unemployment and increase in small business applications to lower costs for Kansas businesses and families.

“It was a blast joining folks from across the KC area for a workout at one of our great locally owned gyms here in the Kansas Third,” said Davids. “Kansas small businesses are at the heart of our community, and I’ll continue standing up for them through my role on the U.S. House Small Business Committee, so they can support our economy, their families, and their employees. While we’ve seen recent economic progress in record job creation and small business applications, there’s still more work needed to get prices back down for both businesses and families."

“I appreciate Rep. Davids joining EverFit for a workout and her support for local businesses like mine,” said Dawn Rattan, owner, EverFit. “It lets us know that she cares and that she will work for us in Washington. She stays close to the community and I think that informs her priorities. Small businesses see it and appreciate it.”

“I am thrilled to start 2024 with a workout alongside Representative Davids at EverFit in Shawnee, one of our local small businesses,” said Jessica Johnson, Executive Director, Workforce Development & Continuing Education, Johnson County Community College. “Small businesses are the core of our community and critical in fostering economic growth. Representative Davids has been an avid supporter for small businesses and the efforts of the Kansas Small Business Development Center, which works daily to help more people realize their business dreams.”

“The SBA is proud to work with and support small businesses throughout the metro Kansas City area, including businesses such as EverFit in Shawnee, KS,” said Michael Barrera, Kansas District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). “Entrepreneurs such as EverFit are critical to the local economy and our local fitness goals. SBA’s entrepreneurial support is made much easier when we can partner with local leaders and elected officials who also make the commitment to assist small businesses.  Good luck to EverFit and thanks for the workout!”

Davids previously released a report on the recent local small business growth. She also shared what she is doing in Congress to support that growth, including voting to strengthen domestic supply chains and introducing legislation to support women and veteran business owners. Key findings include:

• In 2021, 10,600 new business applications were filed in Kansas’ Third District, an increase of around 7,500 since 2019.
• The Kansas Small Business Development Center served 1,203 clients in 2021, leading to $49 million in annual sales, 876 jobs created, and 24 new businesses.
• In 2021, small businesses made up 92.2 percent of all employers in Kansas’ Third District, with 16,173 small businesses employing 175,911 people.

As a member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee, Davids has pushed for oversight of relief programs and urged the SBA to address fraud and protect small business owners in need. As a member of the Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access, she has also focused on shoring up supply chains for small- and medium-sized manufacturers here at home and lowering operation costs.