Michigan Small Business Owners Travel to Washington, D.C., to Advocate for Importance of Digital Tools

Three Michigan small business owners recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal lawmakers and advocate for policies that protect access to digital advertising and artificial intelligence tools that have become critical to small business success.

The three women entrepreneurs — Claresta Williams Ivy of Overstuffed Closet Boutique in Shelby Township, Ita Reyes of Ita Yoga Studio in Ann Arbor, and La’Asia Johnson of Elle Jae Essentials in Flint — participated in the annual Meta Business Leaders Network conference, joining fellow entrepreneurs from across the country to discuss the future of technology, entrepreneurship and small business growth.

During the trip, the business owners met with members of Michigan’s congressional delegation, including the offices of Sen. Elissa Slotkin and Rep. Debbie Dingell, to highlight how digital tools such as personalized advertising and AI-powered marketing platforms are helping small businesses compete and expand.

“Small businesses today rely heavily on digital tools to connect with customers in affordable and effective ways,” said Williams Ivy. “For many entrepreneurs, personalized advertising allows us to compete with much larger companies without needing massive marketing budgets.”

The three entrepreneurs emphasized that while their businesses operate in different industries — fashion retail, wellness and skincare — they share many of the same challenges and opportunities in today’s digital economy.

At Overstuffed Closet Boutique, personalized advertising helps promote new fashion arrivals to shoppers already interested in similar products. Elle Jae Essentials uses targeted digital campaigns to expand brand awareness beyond Flint and throughout Michigan and beyond. Ita Yoga Studio relies on digital advertising and AI-assisted marketing tools to efficiently reach individuals searching for wellness and fitness opportunities.

“Artificial intelligence is helping small businesses save time and operate more efficiently,” Reyes said. “AI tools allow entrepreneurs to create marketing content faster, analyze performance, improve customer targeting and spend more time focusing on clients and growing their businesses.”

The business owners said they support responsible safeguards surrounding artificial intelligence and consumer protections, but cautioned lawmakers against overly broad regulations that could unintentionally limit small businesses’ ability to access affordable digital marketing tools.

“Small businesses are the backbone of communities across Michigan,” Johnson said. “Policies surrounding AI and digital advertising should recognize how important these tools have become for entrepreneurs trying to grow, create jobs and serve customers.”

The entrepreneurs urged federal lawmakers to:

• Protect access to personalized advertising tools that help small businesses reach customers efficiently and affordably.
• Support policies that encourage innovation in artificial intelligence while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
• Ensure small business owners have a voice in ongoing conversations about technology and digital policy.

The group said digital tools are no longer optional for many entrepreneurs, but essential components of modern business operations.

“When small businesses have access to the right tools, they can grow, hire employees and strengthen local communities,” the business owners said. “It is important that public policy keeps pace with how entrepreneurs operate in today’s economy.”