Washington, DC — The Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) today announced the launch of the AI Innovation & Policy Coalition for Main Street Businesses, a cross-sector initiative designed to ensure that artificial intelligence strengthens economic opportunity, resilience, and competitiveness for America’s smallest businesses.
AI technology adoption is accelerating among large financial institutions, Wall Street-backed companies, and national chains and franchises that already have the data, capital, and policy influence to move fast. Main Street small businesses, without the resources to deploy AI into their operations, are being left behind, and policymakers are still in the early stages of defining the rules of the road. To close this gap, the Coalition brings together small business advocates, lenders, technology leaders, and policy experts to advance practical, responsible AI innovation and policy initiatives grounded in real-world Main Street needs.
“Small businesses are navigating rapid technological change while still facing long-standing barriers to capital, coaching, and growth,” said Natalie Madeira Cofield, President & CEO of AEO. “The AI Innovation & Policy Coalition ensures that innovation and policy move together, so AI becomes a tool that expands opportunity, builds resilience, and reflects the lived experiences of entrepreneurs from all communities.”
Coalition Goals and Focus
The AI Innovation & Policy Coalition for Main Street Businesses is structured around several core objectives:
- Support Main Street and Microbusinesses in the AI Era
Improve access to AI for retail, hospitality, service, and other community-based enterprises by providing free resources, including an AI-enabled business health assessment, coaching, and playbooks that help owners apply AI to compete and achieve sustainable growth. - Shape Practical, Pro-Innovation AI policy
Educate policymakers by providing policy guidance and convening stakeholder briefings that replace fear-based narratives with real-world Main Street use cases, constraints, and risks. - Build Shared Data Infrastructure
Convene key stakeholders across the small business ecosystem to encourage collaboration, define shared data frameworks, and promote responsible data governance that safely unlocks AI-powered tools for Main Street business owners and AI-driven insights for economic development stakeholders. - Protect Small Businesses From AI-enabled Harms
Reduce cybersecurity risks, fraud, and data misuse by providing proactive guidance and practical, resilience-focused safeguards tailored to the realities of small businesses.
“Main Street small businesses are the lifeblood of our communities, and AI has the potential to elevate their competitiveness, growth, and impact,” said Mitch Jacobs, Founder of Plink, AEO Board member, and Coalition Cochair, “This Coalition builds a much-needed bridge between innovation and policy so Main Street small businesses can benefit from AI’s promise and be protected from its misuse.”
A Trusted, Neutral Convener
AEO will serve as a neutral convener, ensuring the Coalition remains mission-driven, education-focused, and not dominated by any single technology or platform. Industry participation is aligned to shared outcomes and real policy deliverables, offering a constructive pathway for engagement that supports both innovation and public trust.
“Policymakers are eager to understand AI, but they need grounded, practical insight, not hype,” said Kouri Marshall, Senior Director at Chamber of Progress and AEO Regional Council Chair, and Coalition Cochair. “This Coalition creates a credible space where innovators, advocates, and policymakers can engage around solutions that actually work for small businesses and local economies.”
How to Engage
The AI Innovation & Policy Coalition for Main Street Businesses is actively welcoming founding members and strategic partners from across the small business ecosystem, including advocacy organizations, lenders, technology and data leaders, and policy experts.
Organizations interested in joining or learning more are encouraged to contact AEO by emailing the AI Innovation & Policy Coalition team.
![](https://aeoworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ryan_kon.png")
