HARRISBURG, PA — House Republicans have launched their Main Street Entrepreneurship Initiative, a package of bills to make it easier for Pennsylvanians to start businesses and promote entrepreneurship in the state. 

The bills would waive filing fees for first-time entrepreneurs, require businesses receiving loans and grants from the state to commit to staying in Pennsylvania, establish a set-aside program to target small and disadvantaged businesses within the previous three years, and modernize the bankruptcy exemption statute to provide fair protections for entrepreneurs’ assets, including primary residences and other necessities of life. They also include a resolution to recognize National Entrepreneurship Week.

The bills aim to reduce the burden on employers and increase investment in multiple sectors of the economy. According to a national study, Pennsylvania’s rate of entrepreneurship is nearly 50 percent lower than the national average.

The House Republicans say small business owners and entrepreneurs are the backbone of local communities, and that they are committed to making the dream of business ownership in Pennsylvania more accessible to everyone.