Forbes Small Giants
Forbes, May 2018

The third annual Small Giants list celebrates 25 standout businesses that favor greatness over growth... The companies are all privately owned, profitable, at least ten years old and were selected based on factors including community involvement, commitment to staff and industry excellence. ...

UNCOMMONGOODS
BROOKLYN, NY
FOUNDER: DAVE BOLOTSKY (CEO)
2017 REVENUE: MORE THAN $60 MILLION
EMPLOYEES: 200
In 1999 Dave Bolotsky, a former Goldman Sachs managing director, launched UncommonGoods, an online retail platform that sells gifts, jewelry and home accessories made by independent artists and designers. It has enjoyed 13 straight...

Op-Ed By Mary Faucett, Owner, Bambino's Cafe
... When Missouri raises the minimum wage, and all businesses, including the large chains, have to pay a decent wage, it will level the playing field for us little guys and help us grow our business. ...

By Jennifer Zarate
WWLP-22News, May 8, 2018

A rally held at the State House in Boston drew hundreds of people demanding legislature to take action on paid leave and a $15 minimum wage. ...

In favor of raising minimum wage, Holly Sklar, CEO of Business For a Fair Minimum Wage, said workers are customers, so when there's more money circulating in wages it's going right back into businesses in the form of spending.

"As a lot of our businesses will tell you investing in your workers means that they're going to be investing more into your...

By Matt Murphy
State House News Service, May 8, 2018

BOSTON - There will be votes taken this year on a $15-an-hour minimum wage and paid family and medical leave for workers. The only question, advocates assured on Tuesday, is whether legislators vote this spring, or voters make the decision in the fall.

Hundreds of union workers, community organizers and faith-based leaders swarmed the Statehouse Tuesday to make their voices and presence felt by lawmakers. Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind two ballot questions to achieve both policy goals, organized the raucous rally, which echoed through the building...

By Nicole Duncan
QSR Magazine, May 2018

When it comes to hot-button issues in the restaurant industry, the question of minimum wage may be the most contested. Some operators have become champions of the cause, citing it not only as a business responsibility, but also as an opportunity to build a stronger company from the ground up. ...

Looking to the future, three limited-service leaders weigh in on how restaurants can adapt to the changes. ...

MICHAEL LASTORIA / Cofounder & CEO, &pizza

... &pizza is built on the shoulders of its employees. We give them...

St. Louis American, May 4, 2018

Raise Up Missouri said that on May 2 it turned in enough signatures to put a ballot issue before Missouri voters this November that would raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 by 2023. ...

“The increase to $12 phases in gradually, giving low-paying businesses time to adjust and experience the benefits of a rising minimum wage such as increased consumer spending, cost savings from lower employee turnover, increased productivity, and happier customers,” said Pam Hausner, owner of Big Vision Design in Kansas City and business campaign manager for...

By Allison Kite
Kansas City Star, May 4, 2018

... Minimum wage

A coalition between Raise Up Missouri and the newly launched Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage is arguing a boost to the state's minimum wage would help not just workers, but businesses. ...

The group turned in 120,000 signatures on Wednesday for a ballot measure that would boost Missouri's minimum wage from $7.85 per hour to $12 per hour gradually until 2023. The event marked the official launch for Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

Proponents of a higher minimum wage argue...

By Philip Joens
Jefferson City News Tribune, May 3, 2018

A group of business owners, activists and retail employees turned in more than 120,000 signatures Wednesday to the office of Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft in an attempt to force voters to decide whether to raise the state's minimum wage to $12 per hour.

Proponents of the initiative said Wednesday that the proposal has the support of more than 200 businesses statewide. If passed by voters, the proposal could raise the state's minimum wage gradually until 2023. ...

Raise Up Missouri and Missouri Business for...

By Alisha Shurr
Missouri Times, May 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri business owners and workers gathered in the state Capital to turn in signatures in an effort to put raising the minimum wage to a vote of the people.

Raise Up Missouri submitted more than 120,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s Office on May 2 and was joined by Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a group of over 200 business owners supporting the initiative.

The initiative would increase Missouri’s minimum wage from its current rate of $7.85 an hour to...

By Stephanie Sandoval
Columbia Missourian, May 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY — Alexis Straughter is a single mother of two young girls who works at the Royal Oak Nursing and Rehab in St. Louis. She makes $10.45 an hour, and she said it’s still not enough. “I’ve been trying to make ends meet,” she said. “It just doesn’t work.”

Straughter shared her story Wednesday at a press conference in support of Raise Up Missouri’s initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage. The press conference, held at the Missouri Secretary of State’s office on West Main Street...

Associated Press (AP), May 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A group calling for a higher minimum wage has turned in signatures for a ballot initiative that would let voters decide the issue.

The organization, Raise Up Missouri, said Wednesday it had turned in more than 120,000 signatures to the Secretary of State’s office. The group wants a question on November’s ballot asking voters to slowly raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour. The current minimum wage is $7.85.

Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a coalition of 200 local employers...

By Andria Kirkland
KRCG TV 13 (CBS) Columbia/Jefferson City, May 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY — Some Missouri business leaders and workers planned to turn in signatures for a ballot initiative to increase the state's minimum wage.

A coalition known as Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage along with Raise Up Missouri were scheduled to hold a joint press conference Wednesday morning. ... The event will also serve as the launch of Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a growing statewide coalition of more than 200 Show-Me State business leaders. ...

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ST. LOUIS (KMOX), May 2, 2018 - Business owners who support raising Missouri's minimum wage will be in Jefferson City this morning, supporting an effort aimed at putting the issue before voters in November. ...

Among those backing the push is Clever Real Estate, Chief Strategy Officer Luke Babich who says the group calling itself "Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage" represents a wide range of businesses. ...

The signatures were gathered by the group Raise Up Missouri, and a separate group Missouri Businesses for a Fair Minimum Wage announced its formation and support of the effort.

Supporters want...

By Joel Hulsey
KSDK 5 (NBC), St. Louis, May 2, 2018

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Show Me State could receive a significant pay raise within the next five years if an initiative by state leaders have their way.

Wednesday, several Missouri business leaders, workers and supporters of a new ballot will hold a press conference to turn in signatures in support of the initiative. If passed, the ballot would increase Missouri's minimum wage from $7.85 per hour to $8.60 per hour by 2019, with a gradual increase to $12 per hour in 2023.

Along with...