Missy Hughes Kicks Off National Small Business Week With Comprehensive Plan To Strengthen Wisconsin’s Small Businesses
Missy Hughes Is The Only Candidate For Governor Who Has Helped Small Businesses Start And Grow Across Wisconsin – As Head of Economic Development Missy Helped Over 9,500 Wisconsinites Start A Small Businesses
During National Small Business Week Missy Will Visit Small Businesses In Viroqua, Madison, Wisconsin Dells, And Sheboygan
VIROQUA, WI – This morning, Democrat for Governor and former head of Wisconsin Economic Development, Missy Hughes kicked off Small Business Week by outlining her comprehensive strategy to help Wisconsin’s small businesses start and grow despite the national economic chaos caused by the Trump administration and aided and abetted by Tom Tiffany.
This week Missy will be visiting small businesses in Viroqua, Madison, Wisconsin Dells, and Sheboygan to meet with small business owners about the challenges they are facing, and how as governor she can best support them.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of Wisconsin’s economy, and the pillars of Wisconsin communities. As head of Economic Development I spent six years helping small businesses grow across Wisconsin. As Governor I’ll supercharge this work to help 50,000 Wisconsinites start their own businesses, and fight back against the leadership in Washington that is holding our small businesses back with their tariffs, health care cuts and higher gas prices caused by reckless foreign wars” said Missy. “No other candidate in the field for governor – Democrat or Republican – has the experience, the knowledge and the track record of success that I have delivered on this critical sector of our economy.”
According to data from the Small Business Administration, Wisconsin’s nearly 440,000 small businesses represent nearly 98% of all employers, employing over 1.2 million people.
Under the Main Street Bounce Back program spearheaded by Missy Hughes during her time as head of Economic Development, Missy helped over 9,500 small businesses move into vacant spaces in communities across Wisconsin. The program provided a $10,000 grant to small business owners to grow their businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this year Missy released the first proposals of her Unlock Wisconsin platform, including her plan to expand the Main Street Bounce Back program to help 50,000 Wisconsinites start a small business in her first term. She has since released her proposals to lower the cost of childcare and fix Wisconsin’s broken healthcare system.
“We need to take a 360 degree approach to growing Wisconsin’s small businesses, from helping entrepreneurs access start-up capital, providing high quality and affordable health insurance through a public option, and clawing back Trump’s tariffs that are raising costs for everyone and pushing our small business to the brink,” said Missy.
As Governor, Missy will help Wisconsin’s small businesses grow by:
- Providing Direct Support To Wisconsinites Starting A Small Business
As Governor, Missy will supercharge her wildly successful Main Street Bounce Back program fivefold with the goal of supporting 50,000 more Wisconsinites who want to start a small business with grants and connections to private capital.
In addition to these financial resources, Missy expands access to free training and support for small businesses owners to learn how to run a small business in an ever changing business environment. And Missy will direct her administration to modernize outdated regulations and bureaucratic procedures to make it easier for businesses to get started.
- Creating A Public Health Insurance Option So Small Business Owners Can Access Quality Healthcare For Their Family And Their Employees
No Wisconsinite with an idea of starting their own business should be held back by the fear of losing their health insurance. That’s why as Governor Missy will create a public option that allows any Wisconsinite to buy into the BadgerCare system and have access to reliable and affordable healthcare, and assist small businesses to provide their employees with healthcare benefits.
Missy will further lower Wisconsin’s healthcare costs by investing in preventative care, importing lower-cost prescription drugs from Canada, and blocking private equity from buying up our healthcare providers and creating monopolies on care in our underserved communities.
- Clawback Money Stolen from Wisconsin Small Businesses by Trump/Tiffany Tariffs
Trump’s tariffs have cost each Wisconsin family an average of $2,200 in the past year alone. That means families have less money to spend on anything beyond the basics. They’re going out to eat, or to a show, or on vacation less, and that hurts our small businesses who so often rely on customers from their own community.
Trump’s tariffs are also directly cutting into small businesses profits. Unlike large companies who can lobby Trump at Mar-a-Lago for exceptions to his tariff scheme, small businesses are facing higher costs and tighter margins – margins that Trump’s war in Iran and the rising gas prices it has caused have decimated even more.
As Governor Missy will go on the offense, and provide the Attorney General with the authority and resources to sue the federal government for the tariff revenue that they have stolen from Wisconsin, and use every lever at her disposal to stop future tariffs from taking hold.
About Missy
Missy Hughes is a mother of three and a proven job-creator who has always stood up to the powerful and fought for Wisconsin families. As a leader at the Organic Valley dairy co-op for over 17 years, Missy successfully fought to keep 1,600 farmers on their land. As head of Wisconsin Economic Development, she created over 45,000 jobs, and helped 9,500 Wisconsinites start a small business in every county across Wisconsin.
As Governor, Missy will stand up to Trump’s corrupt and dangerous agenda that is dramatically increasing costs and stripping away Wisconsinites’ healthcare. Missy will deliver an economy that works for all of us with good-paying jobs, affordable and quality healthcare, strong education, and accessible childcare for every Wisconsin family.
Missy lives in Southwestern Wisconsin, just outside of Viroqua with her husband Tripp, their five dogs, two donkeys, and a flock of seventy sheep. To learn more about Missy’s experience and vision to grow Wisconsin’s economy, please visit MissyForGovernor.com.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Missy Hughes
Missy Hughes Announces Next Phase of UNLOCK WISCONSIN – Ensuring Affordable, High-Quality Childcare for Wisconsin Families
Feb 26th, 2026 by Missy HughesMissy’s Unlock Wisconsin childcare agenda would save a typical Wisconsin family $20,000 each year, while helping childcare providers support their families, grow their businesses, and expand statewide childcare capacity.
Secretary Missy Hughes Releases Economic Plan in Campaign for WI Gov
Jan 20th, 2026 by Missy HughesMissy Hughes Will UNLOCK WISCONSIN By Removing The Barriers That Are Holding People Back And Ensuring Opportunity Moves Faster For Everyone – Her Comprehensive Plan Will Grow Wisconsin’s Economy, Boost Opportunity And Tackle The Affordability Crisis
