{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-hosts-discussion-bbq-restaurant-owners-releases-updated-small-business", "Davids Hosts Discussion with BBQ Restaurant Owners, Releases Updated Small Business Report", "2024-07-18", "2024", "2024-07", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LENEXA, KS \u2013 Today, Representative Sharice Davids hosted a conversation with multiple KC-area BBQ restaurant owners at Jack Stack Barbecue in Lenexa. The discussion focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities facing small businesses in Kansas, including navigating current economic landscapes and leveraging federal resources. Following the event, Davids released an updated report on the current state of small business in Kansas\u2019 Third Congressional District. Davids is a member of the U.S. House Small Business Committee.\n\n\"During today's conversation with KC-area BBQ restaurant owners, we discussed important issues facing our small businesses, from navigating economic challenges to maximizing federal resources,\u201d said Davids. \u201cAs a member of the House Small Business Committee, I'm committed to ensuring these entrepreneurs have the support needed to thrive and keep serving up Kansas City's world-renowned BBQ in our community.\"\n\n\u201cThe business of barbeque is currently facing unprecedented challenges,\u201d said Ron Gray, Chief Executive Officer, Kansas City Barbeque Society. \u201cThe significant rise in protein costs, particularly in the post-pandemic era, has severely impacted the industry, posing increasing difficulties for small businesses. Representative Sharice Davids's unwavering support for business owners through her work on the U.S. House Small Business Committee is crucial in these trying times, ensuring the resilience of our small business community.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know that 'support small businesses' is a very overused statement and as such, may not land as well as it used to,\u201d said Ciaran Molloy, General Manager/Owner, Woodyard BBQ. \u201cHowever, it is so important to have them as they are one of the last lines of defense against the huge food corporations in what essentially are oligopolies now. If you want interesting and loved food made by people that live in your town and who, importantly, also spend in that same town, keep visiting your local businesses and restaurants.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall food businesses make a valuable contribution to the $81 billion food and agriculture industry in Kansas,\u201d said Kelsey Olson, Deputy Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture. \u201cSupporting small businesses will strengthen the state\u2019s largest economic driver.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the engine that drive our regional economy. The hard work and dedication of entrepreneurs is an inspiration as they innovate and evolve to better serve the community,\u201d said Cathy Bennett, Senior VP Public Policy, Greater KC Chamber of Commerce. \u201cThis is particularly true for those in food service and the hospitality industry who are often the first smiling face to greet visitors to greater Kansas City, ensuring their stay is something to talk about when they go home and solidifying our reputation in places outside the metropolitan area. The KC Chamber values the opportunity to work with Congresswoman Davids to better understand the needs of our diverse small business sector so that we can advocate for opportunities to reduce barriers to their growth. When you want to understand the heart of a region \u2013 look to the strength of its small business community. And ours is second to none.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of rural communities. Livestock producers are small business owners,\u201d said Matt Teagarden, Chief Executive Officer, Kansas Livestock Association. \u201cThese businesses supply high-quality protein to retailers and restaurants that deliver those products to consumers. It is incredibly important to our members that we ensure an environment in which small businesses can thrive. KLA members appreciate Rep. Davids\u2019 work on issues important to small businesses.\u201d\n\nImage\n\nImage\n\nA portion of Rep. Sharice Davids\u2019 updated small business report, showing the state of the Third District\u2019s small business ecosystem.\n\nAttendees for today\u2019s conversation included Jack Stack BBQ, Brobeck BBQ, Woodyard Bar-B-Que, Jones Bar-B-Que, Kansas City Barbecue Society, Kansas Department of Agriculture, Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, Kansas Livestock Association, and Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.\n\nIn the updated report, which follows Davids\u2019 initial report released in 2022, Davids shares insight into the recent growth of local small businesses and what she is doing in Congress to support that growth, including voting to strengthen domestic supply chains and introducing legislation to support underrepresented business owners like women, veterans, and Native Americans. Key findings include:\n\nIn 2023, 10,704 new business applications were filed in Kansas\u2019 Third District, up 12.6 percent since 2022 and 42.7 percent since 2019.\n\nOut of Kansas\u2019 33,268 new small business applications in 2023, Johnson County led the state with 8,272 new applications from the county.\n\nThe Kansas Small Business Development Center (SBDC) served 1,399 clients in 2023, leading to $94 million in annual sales, 4,714 jobs created, and 52 new businesses.\n\nIn 2023, Kansas\u2019 Third District had 16,374 small businesses employing 169,254 people \u2013 making up 92.4 percent of all district employers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T18:32:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/davids-hosts-discussion-bbq-restaurant-owners-releases-updated-small-business"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7671760395169258, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}