Rep. Mark Alford is on the side of small business
By Cathleen Draper
Before Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) was elected to Congress, he spent nearly three decades connecting with thousands of Missourians and their families through his role as a news anchor. His reporting provided a front-row seat to the issues that matter most to everyday Missourians, as well as the struggles they faced.
It was those connections – and his innate talent for using communication to inform and influence – that inspired him to run for office.
In 2021, he resigned from his position anchoring a Kansas City morning show and announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Missouri’s 4th congressional district. In 2022, he was elected to the House, and he won the election again in 2024. He’s campaigning to do the same in the upcoming midterm elections in November.
As an elected official, Alford hasn’t forgotten about the people he met as a reporter. Rather, he uses his position to magnify their voices and values in Washington, D.C. He’s an especially staunch supporter of small business owners.
“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of the American Dream,” Alford said.
In his first year in Congress, Alford was selected to the House Small Business Committee. He continues to sit on the committee during his second term and chairs its Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee, which reviews regulations placed on small businesses and the efficiency of government programs that impact them, such as the Small Business Administration (SBA).
Legislating for Growth
In June 2025, Alford introduced the Supporting Trade and Rebuilding Opportunity for National Growth (STRONG) Act, which would increase SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, so they keep pace with today’s economy.
As they currently stand, SBA 7(a) loans offer flexible financing up to $5 million for small businesses, which can be used by hotel owners as working capital, for acquisitions, and for renovations and upgrades. On the other hand, 504 loans provide long-term, fixed-rate financing for small businesses – for hotel owners, 504 loans are often used for purchasing real estate, new construction, and major renovations.
According to Alford, SBA programs are long overdue for an update.
“The maximum loan amounts for these programs have not been updated in more than 15 years, even as inflation has significantly increased the cost of purchasing property, renovating facilities, acquiring equipment, and expanding a business,” Alford said.
The STRONG Act – one of AAHOA’s top legislative priorities – would increase loan limits from $5 million to $10 million, “giving entrepreneurs, including hotel owners, the access to capital they need to invest in their properties, grow their businesses, and create jobs,” he continued.
As small business owners like AAHOA Members continue to navigate rising costs, workforce challenges, and a rapidly evolving economy, more significant changes to the way they run their businesses are on the horizon. One of the most impactful is the increased prevalence and use of artificial intelligence, which is already shaping hotel operations across the industry.
“While AI offers tremendous opportunities, many small businesses do not have the resources or technical expertise available to larger corporations,” Alford said.
That’s what led him to introduce the AI for Main Street Act, which would require the SBA’s Small Business Development Centers – which provide counseling, training, and funding recommendations – to support small businesses in AI adoption, from evaluating AI to offering best practices, training, and guidance for using these programs.
“This legislation will help small businesses better understand and responsibly adopt AI tools so they can remain competitive, improve their operations, and continue creating jobs in their communities,” Alford said.
The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Hillary Scholten (D-MI), passed the House this summer.
The Power of Partnership
As an elected official, Alford has worked closely with AAHOA.
“AAHOA has been a tremendous partner during my time in Congress,” he said.
Near the start of his second term, Alford took part in a Back of the House Tour hosted by AAHOA Lifetime Members at a Fairfield Inn & Suites in Belton, MO. Through that, he got a behind-thescenes look at the experiences of hoteliers and their staff. Alford toured the hotel, made a bed alongside housekeeping, and folded linens.
Alford has also connected with AAHOA leaders and members during the association’s yearly advocacy conferences, where hoteliers meet with elected officials to raise awareness of the lodging industry, its impact on communities across the country, and the issues that hotel owners and their staff face every day.
This year, Alford is slated to serve as the keynote speaker at the 2026 National Leadership & Advocacy Conference, taking place September 15-16 in Washington, D.C.
“Events such as the Back of the House Tour and the advocacy conferences provide members of Congress with an invaluable opportunity to hear directly from hotel owners about the challenges they face, from workforce shortages and rising operating costs to access to capital and burdensome regulations,” Alford said.
The conversations he has with AAHOA Members help to put federal policies into a real-world context, highlighting the impact of legislation on people’s lives and businesses.
“Members of Congress make better decisions when we leave Washington, visit businesses in our districts, and listen directly to the people who create jobs and serve their communities,” Alford said. “AAHOA’s advocacy ensures that the voices of hotel owners are heard throughout the policymaking process.”
That advocacy – and the partnership of lawmakers like Alford – keeps the American Dream alive, especially within communities such as AAHOA’s, one he has gotten to know and greatly respects.
“For generations, immigrants have come to this country, worked hard, taken risks, and built businesses that provide for their families while creating jobs and opportunities for others,” Alford said. “AAHOA Members exemplify that story.
“Their success demonstrates how entrepreneurship, determination, and a commitment to community can strengthen local economies and help ensure that the American Dream remains available to the next generation.”
Contact Your Legislators
AAHOA supports the amending of the Small Business Act by increasing the maximum gross loan amount for section 7(a) and 504 loans from $5 million to $10 million. The bill also includes a 75 percent guaranteed rate on loans of up to $10 million, making the program more attractive for lenders. Take action and write your legislators today to ask them to support raising the limit of SBA loans. Complete a pre-written form here.
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