From the family-owned restaurants along North Temple to the shops, salons, and service providers that anchor our Westside neighborhoods, small businesses are the economic engine and cultural fabric of District 21. They create local jobs, keep dollars circulating in our community, and reflect the rich diversity of the people who call this area home.

But running a small business in Utah comes with real challenges: rising commercial rents, complicated licensing and permitting processes, limited access to capital — especially for women-owned and minority-owned businesses — and competition with national chains that enjoy economies of scale our local entrepreneurs can’t match.

Jeneanne will be a strong voice for small businesses in the legislature by:

• Simplifying licensing, permitting, and regulatory processes so that entrepreneurs can spend less time navigating bureaucracy and more time building their businesses.

• Expanding access to microloans and small-business grants, particularly for startups and businesses in historically underserved communities on the Westside.

• Supporting state procurement policies that give local small businesses a fair shot at government contracts.

• Advocating for commercial rent stabilization tools and protections against predatory lease terms that displace established businesses from gentrifying neighborhoods.

• Investing in business incubator and mentorship programs that connect emerging entrepreneurs with the knowledge, networks, and resources they need to succeed.

• Promoting “buy local” initiatives and partnerships between the state, the city, and neighborhood organizations to drive foot traffic and awareness to Westside businesses.