Press Releases

Contact: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce announce support for statewide $15 minimum wage

Jan. 21, 2020, Richmond, VA—Business leaders are showing their support for phasing in a $15 statewide minimum wage, citing numerous business benefits a higher minimum wage would have for businesses and the state economy.

Alissa Barron-Menza, vice president of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, joined legislators and low-wage workers speaking at a rally at the capitol today calling for raising Virginia’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour. The U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce also announced their support.

Contact: Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Jan. 14, 2020, Dover, DE—Business leaders are showing their support for gradually raising Delaware’s minimum wage to $15, citing numerous business benefits a higher minimum wage would have for their businesses and the state economy.

Alissa Barron-Menza, Vice President of Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, joined workers and elected officials at a press conference at the capitol today calling for raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour. The CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce also announced their support.

Contact: Erin Musgrave
erin@emcstrategies.com, 530-864-7014

Dec. 20, 2019 – Twenty-one states are kicking off the new year by raising their minimum wage, and business owners are speaking out in support. Business leaders say the increases taking effect on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 will boost consumer spending, reduce costly employee turnover, increase productivity and customer satisfaction, and strengthen local economies.

Six states (California, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York) with minimum wage raises at the new year are on track to reach $15 an hour in coming years, and all businesses in New York City must pay at least $15 per hour as of Dec. 31, 2019. 

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, erin@emcstrategies.com, (530) 864-7014
Bob Keener, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, (617) 610-6766

July 18, 2019—Business owners across the country applauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the Raise the Wage Act today, which would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025. About 1,000 business organizations and owners – and counting - nationwide have signed a Business for a Fair Minimum Wage statement supporting gradually raising the federal minimum wage to $15 because it will increase consumer buying power, foster a more stable productive workforce, and strengthen local businesses and communities.

Contact: Caitlin McShane, (415) 225-8855, caitlin@emcstrategies.com
Bob Keener, (617) 610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

More than 800 business owners – and counting – nationwide have signed a statement supporting raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024 and are available for media interviews

June 16, 2019 – Sunday, June 16 marks the longest period that Americans have gone without an increase in the federal minimum wage since it was enacted in 1938. More than 800 business owners across the country—from mom and pop shops to regional chains and national brands—have signed a Business for a Fair Minimum Wage statement supporting raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2024, which the congressional Raise the Wage Act would do. More business leaders continue to sign on every day—from those who already pay their employees $15 because they see the bottom-line benefits of doing so, to those who are paying less than $15 now but support raising the minimum wage because they know it will be good for businesses and the economy.

CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org
Erin Musgrave, Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Annapolis, March 28, 2019 — Small business owners and business leaders across Maryland are applauding the final passage of a statewide minimum wage increase to $15. After a veto by Governor Hogan yesterday, both chambers of the General Assembly voted today to override the veto.

CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Annapolis, March 7, 2019 — Local business owners are pleased the Senate Finance Committee advanced a $15 minimum wage bill today, while calling on the full Senate to restore a general phase-in timeline for businesses of all sizes.

Say it will put more money in their customer’s pockets, increase employee productivity and retention, and is an investment in the state’s economic future

CONTACT:
Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org, or
Erin Musgrave, 530-864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Annapolis, February 21, 2019 — Maryland business leaders will provide testimony to the Senate Finance Committee at 1pm today, in support of gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023.

CONTACT:
Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Feb. 19, 2019 — Illinois business owners say that the new $15 minimum wage, signed into law today by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, will be good for business.

Business owners ranging from restaurant owners to manufacturers support raising the minimum wage because it will help businesses, communities and the economy as workers have more money to spend. What’s more, businesses will benefit from lower employee turnover and increased productivity and customer satisfaction.

Say it will put more money in their customers' pockets, increase employee productivity and retention, and is an investment in the state’s economic future

CONTACT: Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Annapolis, February 8, 2019— Maryland business owners will provide testimony before the House Economic Matters Committee today in support of gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15. 

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage launches new sign-on statement with more than 200 inaugural business supporters of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024

Contact:
 Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2019 — Business owner Kathy Eckhouse, owner of La Quercia in Iowa, will testify today in support of the Raise the Wage Act of 2019, a bill that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024, before the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor. Eckhouse is one of more than 200 inaugural signers of the new Business for a Fair Minimum Wage statement supporting raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. Business owners and executives from across the country continue to sign on daily.

New Jersey joins California, New York, Massachusetts and Washington DC on path to $15 minimum wage

CONTACT:
 Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

Feb. 4, 2019 — Local business owners applauded Gov. Phil Murphy for signing a bill into law today gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Raising the minimum wage will help businesses, communities and the economy as workers have more money to spend throughout the Garden State. What’s more, businesses will benefit from lower employee turnover and increased productivity and customer satisfaction. Business owners ranging from restaurant owners to manufacturers support a $15 minimum wage.

Missouri restaurant owner joins House and Senate leadership at Capitol Hill press conference today to speak in support of the Raise the Wage Act; business owners across the country show their support for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024

CONTACT:
 Erin Musgrave, (530) 864-7014, erin@emcstrategies.com

CONTACT: Bob Keener, 617-610-6766, bob@businessforafairminimumwage.org

Annapolis, January 14, 2019 — Maryland business leaders spoke at a press conference today in support of gradually raising the state minimum wage to $15. A bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2023 will be introduced in the General Assembly this week.

Contact: Conan Knoll, 831-524-6764, conan@emcstrategies.com 

Business leaders available to speak about why they support minimum wage raises in advance of 19 state increases happening around the country on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1

Dec. 20, 2018 – Nineteen states will ring in the new year with higher minimum wages thanks to various ballot measures, legislation and annual cost-of-living adjustments. Business owners across the country say these increases will boost consumer spending, reduce costly employee turnover, increase productivity and customer satisfaction, and help the economy.