Get Involved In Public Policy
COSE is the unified voice of the business community, advocating on behalf of the region's businesses and giving you a seat at the table.
Public Policy
A voice for Greater Cleveland's small businesses
COSE is a non-partisan, member-driven organization that serves as the unified, collective voice of small businesses in Ohio. We work with you – Greater Cleveland’s small business owners – and on your behalf. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with policymakers and key stakeholders to tackle the issues that stand between small business owners and their ability to achieve success.
COSE's Advocacy Team
The COSE advocacy team works directly with our small business members to provide local, state and federal government with ideas and opportunities that foster a positive environment and allow for small business achievement in all of our communities.
COSE’s Advocacy Team strives to positively impact the legislative environment for small businesses through its:
- Public Policy Agenda
- COSE Small Business Caucus
- Advocacy Events
Public Policy Agenda
Serves as an important roadmap for our advocacy work, prioritizing the policies businesses need to be successful and addressing the issues that impede small business growth. It also maps the ways in which we can successfully safeguard, scale and reform these fundamental policies.
Small Business Caucus
Small Business Caucus gives small businesses a voice and allows COSE to act on your behalf as it relates to public policy issues of importance. The COSE Small Business Caucus acts as a standing body charged with understanding, discussing, and taking action on legislative and regulatory issues that matter most.
The composition of the Small Business Caucus is intentional and reflects the diversity of our organization’s members and their beliefs. Our volunteer members direct our small business advocacy efforts by providing valuable input, testimony and experiences. It is through this forum that COSE’s small business advocacy decisions are vetted.
Advocacy Events
Designed to give small businesses a voice and to connect leaders to elected officials and opportunities to impact legislative and regulatory issues.
Member Forums – COSE members are offered opportunities to share and discuss the specific regulatory and policy issues that directly affect small business.
COSE Days at the Capitol – These experiences provide members with the opportunity to interact with policymakers, elected officials and leaders in Columbus to share challenges and discuss ways to work together to enhance Ohio’s small business climate.
Morning Conversations – These forums feature an elected official or government leader sharing information of importance to the business community in Greater Cleveland.
Advocacy Issues of Importance
On an annual basis, COSE and the Greater Cleveland Partnership work to develop a public policy agenda with a set of priorities that will support business growth, improve the region, and lift up our regional economy. Learn more about our public policy initiatives here. However, throughout the year, other issues will arise and given the strength of our voice and advocacy team, we are always ready to address the issues and ensure small businesses can thrive in a positive business environment. Current issues of importance include:
