Small Business, Big Impact: The 2025 Entrepreneur Day of Action Recap

This year the Entrepreneur Day of Action brought together the Center for Community Wealth Building, Good Business Colorado, Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute and Small Business Majority with entrepreneurs from across Colorado to advocate for policies that support the growth and sustainability of local businesses and communities. Hosted at the Colorado State Capitol, more than 70 entrepreneurs from across the state met directly with legislators to share their experiences and help shape policymaking. Through scheduled meetings, floor lobbying, and even impromptu conversations in the halls, we witnessed how accessible and impactful civic engagement can be.

Legislators were eager to hear from the people powering Colorado’s small business economy. Representative Naquetta Ricks encouraged attendees, stating, "You guys have what it takes, and we're going to fight together…I want to see small businesses succeed." Representative Steven Woodrow echoed this sentiment, urging entrepreneurs to "stay engaged and keep coming back because the more we hear from you, the better." These words reinforced the idea that your voice directly shapes the policies that impact your business.

Entrepreneurs left feeling empowered and ready to take action. Jervis DiCicco, an entrepreneur who also guided attendees through the day’s scheduled events, shared: "There is nothing like seeing the legislative process in action and realizing that there is (almost) no barrier to participation at the Capitol. Whether it's floor lobbying, catching people in the hallway, or scheduling a meeting, the public really does have direct access to lawmakers, and lawmakers want to meet with their constituents!" He highlighted a moment when a senator struck up an organic conversation with someone in the group and then requested a meeting with them, demonstrating how legislators value these interactions.

For first-time participants, the event demystified advocacy. Laura Morocco, another entrepreneur in attendance reflected: "Participating in my first Entrepreneur Day of Action was both exciting and eye-opening. The event helped demystify the process of testifying, lobbying, and simply connecting with senators and representatives in person. I appreciated having a knowledgeable guide who provided context at every turn, which enabled me to feel more empowered to share my voice with our state legislators to make an impact."

Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs appreciated the support of English translations whenever needed. “For me it was very valuable because by giving me the bills in Spanish I was able to learn more about them and choose the ones of greatest interest to me, also doing a short practice on how to use them in front of the legislators made things easier,” said Luz, an entrepreneur who was able to utilize the translations at the event.

One of the most powerful aspects of the day was witnessing entrepreneurs gain confidence in advocating for their businesses. Morgan Turner, a local nonprofit leader who also served as a lobby captain for the day, noted how nervous some business owners were at first but saw them gain comfort as the day progressed. She recounted a particularly inspiring story about an attendee, who initially felt he had nothing to contribute but soon found his voice in a conversation with Representative Woodrow. "It was so amazing to see him come to life!" she shared. "Before leaving yesterday, he ran up and gave me a hug, thanking me for being there and providing support."

The event also offered unique moments of connection. Lindsey, a leader in the policy space who led as a lobby captain, described a special experience when Representative Lorena Garcia invited her and three small business owners onto the House Floor for a tour. "There was so much intentional time with Rep. Garcia, and the small business owners felt incredibly connected to the civic engagement process."

Entrepreneur Day of Action proved to be a catalyst for deeper engagement, with many attendees eager to stay involved in advocacy. Senator James Coleman emphasized the importance of ongoing conversations between lawmakers and business owners: "It’s crucial that we continue to be in conversation to make sure that policies passed in this building provide opportunities for our communities, for our families, and for our businesses to thrive. And quite frankly, that you all be involved in that process because we’re running policies and voting on bills that impact you, and some of us ain’t never been business owners. So it’s important that you all are here to advise us on bills that we’re running."

Colorado’s legislative session is now at the halfway point and as we look ahead, continued engagement will be essential to ensuring that small business voices are heard in shaping Colorado’s policies. The enthusiasm and insights shared at this year’s event set the stage for even greater impact . We encourage all entrepreneurs to stay involved, build on these connections, and advocate for the policies that matter most to them.