We Stand With Our Community
As we continue to witness the division that plagues our Country, I want to candidly express our sentiments and how we recognize our responsibility to take action.
Firstly, our deepest condolences are with the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others taunted with racial discrimination over decades. I am heartbroken—and embarrassed by the shattering reality laced with senseless violence we see in this Country. Truthfully, I haven’t figured out a full course of action, but the recent incidents exerted a much-needed turning point to acknowledge the structural racism before us.
In recent conversations with Black Americans, I realized we share a community, yet a different daily reality. We seek diversity without understanding the experiences of people who reflect it.
Good intentions don’t erase discrimination. These tragic events show us what centuries of implicit biases result in.
It is now clear to me that I did not fully understand white privilege and how strikingly different that societal component can create an opportunity that others do not enjoy, solely due to the color of their skin. I feel incredibly selfish to have never taken the time to really listen and understand how we got here. In my opinion, it is no longer ok to sit comfortably in this bubble.
As business leaders, we have the ability to influence change. It’s time we pay attention to the future we’re shaping through being receptive and creating economic opportunity for the Black community.
We stand with the Black community in advocating for an equitable society. We firmly believe Black Lives Matter and will continue to operate with such values that uplift the voices—and truly reflect our community. We are committed to learning a better path forward.
Our team is working hard to start new conversations, contribute in different ways to youth organizations, and supporting Black-owned businesses. We will make visible our efforts as a way to hopefully inspire others to take action as well as to continue to hold ourselves accountable.
Let’s commit to a better future together.
Clint Bowers
Founder & CEO
Smart Business Concepts
Effective April 2, 2020, the new emergency act requires legislation to provide more than $100 billion in funding to supplement expanded unemployment benefits, paid sick leave, and assistance for families. Essentially, these changes allow for additional job protection during COVID-19 while subsidizing businesses with future tax reimbursements. The policy provisions specifically impact two primary groups of employers: Companies with 500 or fewer employees and an exemption clause for companies with 50 or fewer employees.
The bill authorizes the Secretary of Department of Labor to exclude certain healthcare providers, emergency responders, and small businesses with under 50 employees in which this policy would “jeopardize the future viability as a going concern.” Please be advised, the details or instructions outlining business requirements to meet exemptions status have yet to be released. In the interim, read here for additional information on tax credits.