We're in this together.

nat rosasco • March 25, 2020
Letterhead with headshots of Rhett Buttle and Katie Vlietstra Wossenberg. Blue and red text.

After the 2016 election the world shifted dramatically, becoming a further complicated place. While we remain inherently optimistic people, the results of the election fundamentally altered the way in which our country operates. It became evident, fairly quickly that many of the institutions that are crucial to our democracy would face a continued, sustained attack. 

Over some wine and cheese, Katie and I discussed how we believed business could play a significant, positive role in society. Even more, we believed small business was a place where we could bring together a diverse group of people to build bridges, forge new partnerships and put forth innovative ideas to spur the economic growth of our communities.   

And so, in 2017, Public Private Strategies (PPS) came to life. Our guiding principle is rooted in the importance of bringing together unique partners to collaborate and identify ways in which business takes the lead in creating a more inclusive economy. We couldn’t be more proud of what our team has accomplished in the last three years. However, we could have never imagined something like the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and the truly disruptive situation it has created for all of us.  
Having said that, crisis moments create unique opportunities to help those who we care about the most. Our small but mighty team has already jumped into action. 

Last Tuesday, PPS convened a distinguished group focused on the likely impact of COVID-19 on small businesses and their employees. Nearly 50 people representing advocacy organizations, financial institutions (including banks, community development financial institutions (CDFIs), and fintech), payments and technology platforms, and philanthropic organizations participated. We were inspired by the response and we hope this opportunity to share information will lead to a more collective and forward thinking response. 

PPS is committed to doing its part to help the country, particularly small businesses, through this pandemic as we advocate for solutions that truly give them the resources that not only provide for their immediate needs but support them through recovery and bring about more resilient operations. There is an important role for everyone -- business, government, philanthropy, and other actors to play in this recovery. 

The Hill article: 7 ways Congress can support small businesses during the COVID-19 outbreak.



In fact, Katie and I penned an op-ed in The Hill that outlines steps lawmakers can take to assist small businesses and workers in weathering the impact of COVID-19. We have also curated a list of resources that have been made available by advocacy groups, technology companies, and federal, state, and local government agencies to help businesses and their workers maintain their physical and economic health during the outbreak.

Even though it's hard to do right now, we are beginning to look ahead.  We are ever focused on helping to support the private sector and the government to work collaboratively to find unique ways to help us all through the crisis. As small business owners ourselves, we will take this opportunity to put our efforts into figuring out how we can best support an effort to reimagine Main Street to one that sustains a more inclusive, resilient economy where everyone can thrive. 

We believe strongly that we must create an economy that allows more people to share in our great American dream.  
 
To all of our partners --both formal and informal, thank you for continued leadership, support, and friendship. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of assistance in this challenging time.
 
Sincerely,
 
Rhett and Katie