Press Releases

New Coalition of Hundreds of New York Businesses Supports Raising and Then Indexing Minimum Wage

CONTACT: Blake Case 
blake@emccommunications.com, (601) 832-6079

Feb. 28, 2023—A new and growing coalition of hundreds of businesses and business organizations across New York – from retailers, restaurants and other small businesses to farms, manufacturers and the Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce – released a statement today supporting Raise the Wage Act legislation (S1978A/A2204A) to raise and then index the state minimum wage. Business leaders, who continue to sign on daily, say it will boost consumer spending, strengthen New York’s workforce and businesses, and help build a more resilient economy. 

Business Leaders Join Roundtable with Gov. Moore, Testify in Support of Bill to Raise and Index Maryland’s Minimum Wage

Contact: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

Feb. 27, 2023—Today, business owners will testify before the Maryland House Economic Matters Committee at 1 pm ET in support of the Fair Wage Act of 2023, and join Gov. Wes Moore at a noon roundtable in favor of the legislation. The Fair Wage Act would speed up implementation of Maryland’s $15 minimum wage so it reaches $15 by Oct. 1, 2023, and add annual cost of living adjustments so the minimum wage does not lose purchasing power. Business owners say this legislation will boost consumer spending, strengthen local economies, and improve employee hiring, retention, productivity and customer service. 

Business Leaders Say New Year Minimum Wage Hikes Will Help Businesses and Economy

Contact: Blake Case
blake@emccommunications.com; 601-832-6079

Dec. 22, 2022 — Twenty-three states are raising their minimum wage to ring in the new year. Four more states and D.C. have increases scheduled later in 2023. Business owners across the country are welcoming the increases, saying they will boost consumer spending, strengthen local economies, and improve employee hiring, retention, productivity and customer service.

Florida Business Owners Say Minimum Wage Hike Will Help Economy

Contact: Cat Ulrich 
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

Sept. 27, 2022— Florida’s minimum wage will increase from $10 to $11 an hour on Sept. 30 and business leaders across Florida are welcoming the raise, saying it will boost consumer spending and bolster local businesses. Florida’s minimum wage will continue to increase by $1 per year until it reaches $15 in 2026, followed by cost of living increases in subsequent years. 

July 24 Marks 13 Years With Federal Minimum Wage Stuck at $7.25; Business Owners Call for Action

Contact: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

July 20, 2022—With July 24 marking 13 years since the last federal minimum wage raise in 2009, business owners across the country are calling for the $7.25 federal minimum wage to be increased. This is the longest period without a raise since the federal minimum wage was enacted in 1938. The $7.25 minimum wage adds up to just $15,080 a year for full-time work.

Nebraska Business Owners Support Minimum Wage Increase as Raise the Wage Nebraska Submits Signatures for Ballot Initiative

CONTACT: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

July 7, 2022 —Nebraska business owners spoke today about the importance of raising the state’s minimum wage as Raise the Wage Nebraska submitted signatures to the Secretary of State for the ballot initiative to gradually raise the state minimum wage to $15 by 2026. Business leaders say raising the minimum wage will boost consumer buying power, strengthen workforces, and benefit businesses and the economy.

Business Leaders Welcome July 1 Minimum Wage Increases

Contact: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

June 29, 2022 — Business owners in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Nevada and Oregon say the minimum wage increases taking effect July 1 will boost consumer buying power and strengthen local economies.

“With the federal minimum wage stuck at an abysmal $7.25 an hour, state increases are essential for workers, businesses and the economy,” said Holly Sklar, CEO of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. “Minimum wage increases make it more possible for workers to afford the basics and strengthen the consumer spending that businesses depend on.”

Business Leaders Join Lawmakers in Support of Legislation to Raise New York’s Minimum Wage

April 28, 2022—Today, New York business leaders joined Senate Labor Committee Chair Jessica Ramos, Assembly Labor Committee Chair Latoya Joyner, and community leaders in support of legislation to raise and index New York’s minimum wage so that it keeps up with the cost of living. New York business leaders say the newly amended bill, if passed, would boost consumer buying power, strengthen the workforce, and build a more resilient economy.

Business Leaders Say New Year Minimum Wage Hikes Will Boost Consumer Spending, Strengthen Recovery

Contact: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839 

Dec. 27, 2021—Twenty-one states are ringing in the new year with minimum wage increases. Another four states and the District of Columbia have raises scheduled later in 2022. Business owners across the country are speaking in support of the increases, saying they will boost consumer spending, improve employee retention and productivity, and help build a widely shared economic recovery.

In July, Delaware became the 10th state to enact a $15 minimum wage – joining California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. The first step in Delaware’s raise takes effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Florida Business Owners Say Minimum Wage Increase Will Boost Consumer Spending, Economy

Contact: Cat Ulrich
cat@emccommunications.com, (202) 630-7839

September 29, 2021—Florida’s minimum wage will increase from $8.65 to $10 per hour on Sept. 30 as the first step under the $15 ballot initiative Amendment 2, which Florida voters resoundingly passed last fall. Business owners across Florida are applauding this raise, saying it will benefit businesses and the economy. Florida’s minimum wage will increase again, starting in 2022, by $1 per year until it reaches $15 in 2026.