FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Jenna Weisbord, 202-662-0766

jweisbord@franchise.org

@franchising411

IFA & US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAUNCH TELEVISION ADS IN SUPPORT OF SAVE LOCAL BUSINESS ACT

WASHINGTON, Oct. 30—The International Franchise Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today launched a new ad campaign urging Congress to pass the Save Local Business Act (H.R. 3441), which would clarify the legal definition of joint-employer. Equipped with the simple message that government shouldn’t make it harder to start a small business, the effort features a new TV ad airing in the Washington, D.C., metro area and digital ads running nationwide.

“Over the past three years, lawmakers have heard from countless franchise owners who need  clarity on the joint employer issue so they can open more locations, create more jobs and provide the support necessary for their franchisees need to succeed,” said IFA SVP of Public Affairs and Government Relations Matt Haller. “This ad highlights how legal ambiguity makes it harder for small businesses to expand by undermining the 733,000 franchise businesses across the country, which contributes 7.6 million jobs and $404 billion to America’s economy.”

The ad features Danny Farrar, a U.S Army veteran and the founder of SOLDIERFIT franchise, a unique, functional fitness program with locations in the Maryland and Washington, DC area. Farrar is one of 28 small business owners who have testified in front of Congress on the joint employer issue over the last two years.

“Locally owned businesses deserve as much clarity and certainty as possible so they can continue to create jobs and serve their communities, and we are hopeful that this campaign will help spread that message,” stated Haller.

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About the International Franchise Association

Celebrating 56 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.