Small business Outreach Campaign Overview

Our country is facing a huge challenge. We've got to figure out how to restart our economy and create new jobs. One of the best ways to make this happen is to invest in clean energy and energy efficiency. If we go big with new forms of energy, we can create millions of good, green jobs that can't be outsourced--and we can tackle the climate crisis. To make this happen, we've launched Power Up America, MoveOn's massive campaign to build a new energy economy by transitioning to 100% clean electricity in 10 years and creating 5 million new green jobs .

One of our key strategies is to reach out to small business owners. Every day, lobbyists from Big Oil and Big Coal are telling Congress that transitioning to clean energy would be bad for the economy, when it's actually only bad for dirty energy companies. We need to make sure Congress, particularly the Senate, understands that this transition is key to ending the economic crisis--and small business owners are some of the best folks to tell our story: They are influential in the community and with our congressional targets, and they're great at explaining how important it is for Congress to invest in creating new jobs. So, our goal is to get as many small businesses on board as possible--and then to start making their voices heard by delivering letters signed by business owners to members of Congress.

So, we need every council to get as many business on board as possible. It's fine to start out with "green" businesses (if you want), but we need to reach out beyond that. This is an issue that impacts everyone, so we need all kinds of businesses calling for a shift to a new energy economy.

Here's what your council should do in the next few weeks:

• Make sure you've taken a look over our business outreach packet--and read over the letter we want every business to sign: http://pol.moveon.org/poweruplaunch/smallbizhandout.doc.

• Organize an "small business outreach day" when folks on your council can get back together and reach out to local businesses. We suggest starting right awayby contacting business owners or managers you personally know, and then going out in the community and talking to the rest. Again, the goal is to get as many folks to sign the letter as possible. We'll have more tips on organizing these events coming out soon.

• After your outreach day, plan to keep following up with businesses. It will often take you a few tries to reach the owner or manager.

• Get your letters to your member of Congress on April 16th. Many councils are going to be getting together outside of their Senator's office to hand deliver the letters (and calling the media to get them to cover the story!). Others will be putting them in the mail, or just having a few people deliver them.

Finally, remember that this outreach push is just the beginning. Small businesses are going to be a key ally throughout the Power Up America campaign. So, as you're out talking to folks, keep your eyes open for owners or managers who are excited about the campaign and who you think could influence your target member of Congress.