Page 3 - 201907G20Entrepreneurship Newsletter

US: Bipartisan Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus is Launched

committed to supporting our nation's entrepreneurs.
Senate committees such as the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship, which focuses on some of the same goals as the
caucus, typically operate a bit like fiefdoms. The new caucus will
bring together senators from different committees that touch issues
affecting entrepreneurs around a single agenda. That includes
the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship as well
as those dealing with technology, access to capital, education,
immigration, tax policy, and regulation.
The Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus will be led by Co-Chairs
U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Scott and Klobuchar. Formation of the caucus is supported by
launched the bipartisan Senate Entrepreneurship Caucus on March the Center for American Entrepreneurship, Economic Innovation
6, 2019 to address the most pressing issues facing entrepreneurs Group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Small Business Majority,
and serve as a forum for collaboration and coordination. The the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the National Federation
caucus will work to diagnose the causes of this "startup slump" and of Independent Business, Main Street Alliance, the Small Business
formulate a comprehensive strategy to counteract it. The caucus and Entrepreneurship Council, Small Business Investor Alliance,
will also serve as a clearinghouse for proposals from interested the American Investment Council, and the National Venture Capital
groups who wish to share their ideas with policymakers who are Association.

Australia: $3.6 Million for Small Business Mental Health under New Government Package

The Federal Government of Australia
will spend $3.6 million tackling small
business owners' mental health issues
under a new policy package announced
by Small Busines s and F amil y
Enterprise Minister Michaelia Cash on
the weekend. The PwC analysis found
every dollar spent on workplace mental
health among small businesses returns
$14.50 in productivity benefits.
More broadly, a recent survey of 440
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business owners conducted by not-
for-profit mental health advocates
Everymind found rates of symptoms
associated with depression and anxiety
are higher than the national average.
More than half (57.6%) of Everymind's
respondents reported stress levels which fall outside of the "normal" range. The vast majority ($3.1 million) of the funding
package will be given to Everymind to expand their ‘Ahead for Business' program trail, which launched about six weeks ago.
The digital platform, being trailed in three NSW communities, is designed to provide business owners with flexible, free and
accessible support, helping them conduct screens or mental health checks around common stress sources. More general
business information is also provided, including advice about cashflow management and policy compliance.
Some of the money will be used to conduct more research on how successful the program has been so far and how it can be
improved to better service the needs of business owners. Half-a-million dollars will also be spent on a nationwide government
campaign to promote small business mental health awareness under the policy, which has been welcomed by advocates.
Meanwhile, a small business mental health roundtable will also be conducted to help develop future policy solutions,
particularly for regional and rural business owners.