In partnership with The Ohio State University’s National Center for the Middle Market, the SEC’s 37th Government-Business Forum on Small Business Capital Formation took place in Columbus, Ohio.
The annual forum is an opportunity for the public to meet with regulators, share thoughts on how the agency’s rules are benefitting small business, and provide policy recommendations. This year’s forum marked the second consecutive year that the event was hosted outside of Washington, DC, with last year’s forum taking place in Austin, Texas.
In his opening remarks, Chairman Jay Clayton noted:
“As I have said before, there are many good, talented people, and many promising companies, between the coasts.
Austin, Nashville, and Columbus all share something in common. They stand out for their ability to help small businesses grow outside of the traditional areas along the coasts.”
– Chairman Jay Clayton
The event began with opening remarks from SEC Commissioners followed by two panel discussions. The first panel explored how capital formation options are working for small businesses, such as those in the Midwest, while the second panel focused on diversity and capital formation. Panelists included Midwest-based representatives of small businesses, investors, and advisers to the small business community. Following the morning panel discussions, attendees worked in groups to formulate specific policy recommendations on a variety of issues related to small business capital formation.
Columbus is the latest stop for the SEC, as members of the agency have travelled to numerous cities this year to hear directly from Main Street investors, entrepreneurs, and market participants.
