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Non-profit

Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition

Location:

Arlington, VA
Tax ID:

46-4250940
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2019):

Expenses: $1,084,778
Assets: $681,746
Founded:

2013 1

References

  1. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/

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The Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition was a right-leaning policy advocacy organization founded in 2013 that lobbied for conservative tax reform, expanded trade opportunities, and for comprehensive immigration reform that could prove liberal-expansionist in effect. 1 2 3 The Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition was active in at least 10 states. 4 5 6 7 8  As of 2023, they appear to be listed as no longer operational. 9

Background

The Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition was a right-leaning policy advocacy organization founded in 2013. The organization does not appear to still be active. 10 The website listed on press releases and other references to the organization is not functional. 11 12

The coalition was described as an alliance of businesses, local trade associations and individuals. 13

The group lobbied federal lawmakers for policies that it characterized as “pro-growth economic policies.” 14 This included tax reform, expanded trade opportunities, and comprehensive immigration reform that could prove liberal-expansionist in effect. 15 16

The coalition was active in at least 10 states, Arkansas, California, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 17 18 19 20 21

A study on advocacy groups published in the journal Nonprofit Policy Forum in March 2023 gave the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition a 6.5 score on the index for involvement in economic policy advocacy. The study determined the coalition leaned right, with total expenses of $892,326. 22

As of 2023, the organization appears to be, “terminated or no longer active.” 23

People

James A. Ramsey was a director and president of the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition. 24

Ralph R. Brown was the director and the treasurer of the coalition. 25

Issue Advocacy

In 2014, the coalition supported a tax proposal led by then-House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI). The Camp plan called for collapsing the tax brackets into a 10% and 25% bracket and reducing the corporate tax rate to 25%. 26

The coalition supported a trade promotion authority proposal for the Pacific rim backed by the Obama administration. The organization released a poll that found a majority of Georgia voters supported Trade Promotion Authority. 27

The coalition made grants to other nonprofit organizations that aligned with its own objectives. 28  The Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition gave $2.3 million to the American Action Network in 2017 to help support the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act. 29

State Activity

The coalition also had a state affiliate in Arkansas in March 2014. Martha McCaskill, a Little Rock business owner, was the founding member of the Arkansas coalition. 30

Julio Fuentes, the president and CEO of the Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2017, was a steering committee member for the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition in Florida. He claimed to have fought for tax reform on behalf of 80,000 minority-owned businesses. 31

The coalition sponsored an event in Tampa, Florida in November 2015, in which conservative seniors’ group 60 Plus Association awarded its Guardian of Seniors Rights award to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), the then-chairman of the House Human Resources Subcommittee and member of the House Budget Committee. 32

In June 2014, former Indiana Lt. Gov. John Mutz (R) and the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition joined to advocate a plan for trade and tax reform. 33

Ellen Reitmeyer, while working as executive director of National Association of Women Business Owners Louisville, was the lead spokesperson for Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition-Kentucky. In March 2014, Reitmeyer called for Congress to control federal spending but warned against raising the debt ceiling. She also took up the policies of the coalition and called for expanding trade for Kentucky and for tax reform and asserted that the importance of a labor supply justifies the need for comprehensive liberal-expansionist immigration reform. 34

The coalition launched a chapter in Ohio in 2014, with Mary Leavitt, founder of The Flag Lady’s Flag Store in Columbus, as a founding member of the Ohio coalition. 35

In South Carolina, William Timmons was the state chairman in 2015. 36 Timmons was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican. 37

In August 2014, then-U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) participated in an event sponsored by the coalition, along with Deborah Taylor Tate, a distinguished adjunct senior fellow at the Free State Foundation. The event focused on the need for tax reform, trade expansion, and fiscal responsibility. 38

In August 2014, the Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition teamed with the Beacon Center of Tennessee to host an event with then-U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) to promote market-based tax reforms. The forum called for a flat tax and restraining federal spending. 39

References

  1. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  2. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  3. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition Launches in Ohio.” March 26, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prlog.org/12301243-main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-ohio.html
  4. City Wire Staff. “New coalition to push for tax, trade and immigration reform.” Talk Business and Politics. March 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/new-coalition-to-push-for-tax-trade-and-immigration-reform/
  5. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition Launches in Ohio.” March 26, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prlog.org/12301243-main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-ohio.html
  6. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  7. Reitmeyer, Ellen. “Pro-Growth Policies Help Women.” Louisville Courier Journal. March 16, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/03/16/ellen-reitmeyer-pro-growth-policies-can-help-women-/6426647/
  8. Letters. “Moves to improve Americans’ income.” Indianapolis Business Journal. June 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.ibj.com/articles/48374-moves-to-improve-americans-income
  9. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  10. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  11. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  12. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  13. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  14. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  15. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  16. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition Launches in Ohio.” March 26, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prlog.org/12301243-main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-ohio.html
  17.  City Wire Staff. “New coalition to push for tax, trade and immigration reform.” Talk Business and Politics. March 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/new-coalition-to-push-for-tax-trade-and-immigration-reform/
  18. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition Launches in Ohio.” March 26, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prlog.org/12301243-main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-ohio.html
  19. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  20. Reitmeyer, Ellen. “Pro-Growth Policies Help Women.” Louisville Courier Journal. March 16, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/03/16/ellen-reitmeyer-pro-growth-policies-can-help-women-/6426647/
  21. Letters. “Moves to improve Americans’ income.” Indianapolis Business Journal. June 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.ibj.com/articles/48374-moves-to-improve-americans-income
  22. Irvin, Renee A. “How Dark Is It? An Investigation of Dark Money Operations in U.S. Nonprofit Political Advocacy Organizations.” Nonprofit Policy Forum. March 23, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2023.  https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2022-0032/html
  23. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  24. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Pro Publica. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464250940
  25.  “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Pro Publica. Accessed August 23, 2023.  https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/464250940
  26. City Wire Staff. “New coalition to push for tax, trade and immigration reform.” Talk Business and Politics. March 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/new-coalition-to-push-for-tax-trade-and-immigration-reform/
  27.  Bluestein, Greg. “Cooking the Georgia results of a ‘fast-track’ trade poll.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution. June 4, 2015. https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/cooking-the-georgia-results-fast-track-trade-poll/aJ4j8K2YGnLCH4gHPFlQoM/
  28. “Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition.” Cause IQ. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/main-street-growth-and-opportunity-coalition,464250940/
  29. Kotch, Alex. “Some of America’s Biggest Corporations Help Finance Anti-Impeachment Ads.” PR Watch. January 2, 2020. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prwatch.org/news/2020/01/13522/some-america%E2%80%99s-biggest-corporations-help-finance-anti-impeachment-ads
  30. Press Release. “New coalition to push for tax, trade and immigration reform.” Talk Business. March 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://talkbusiness.net/2014/03/new-coalition-to-push-for-tax-trade-and-immigration-reform/
  31.  Fuentes, Julio. “Clock is Ticking on Tax Reform.” South Florida Sun-Sentinel. July 19, 2017. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2017/07/19/clock-is-ticking-on-tax-reform-opinion/
  32. Ray, Ryan. “Seniors group awards Congressman Vern Buchanan for tax reform actions.” Florida Politics. November 6, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/195680-seniors-group-awards-congressman-vern-buchanan-for-tax-reform-actions/
  33. Letters. “Moves to improve Americans’ income.” Indianapolis Business Journal. June 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.ibj.com/articles/48374-moves-to-improve-americans-income
  34.  Reitmeyer, Ellen. “Pro-Growth Policies Help Women.” Louisville Courier Journal. March 16, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/contributors/2014/03/16/ellen-reitmeyer-pro-growth-policies-can-help-women-/6426647/
  35. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition Launches in Ohio.” March 26, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.prlog.org/12301243-main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-ohio.html
  36. Press Release. “Main Street Growth & Opportunity Coalition launches in South Carolina.” Columbia Star. June 5, 2015. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.thecolumbiastar.com/articles/main-street-growth-opportunity-coalition-launches-in-south-carolina/
  37. “About.” Congressman William Timmons. Accessed August 24, 2023. https://timmons.house.gov/about/
  38.  Press Release. “FSF’s Deborah Tate Joined Cong. Blackburn at Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition Dinner.” August 27, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://freestatefoundation.blogspot.com/2014/08/fsfs-deborah-tate-joined-cong-blackburn.html
  39. Killen, Lindsay Boyd. “Tennessee Taxpayers Can Send a Clear Message to Washington.” Beacon Center of Tennessee. August 28, 2014. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.beacontn.org/tennessee-taxpayers-can-send-a-clear-message-to-washington/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: August 1, 2015

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2019 Dec Form 990 $0 $1,084,778 $681,746 $0 N $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $1,210,000 $4,235,672 $1,766,524 $0 N $1,210,000 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $17,250,000 $13,378,762 $4,792,197 $0 N $17,250,000 $0 $0 $0
    2016 Dec Form 990 $1,000,000 $892,326 $920,959 $0 N $1,000,000 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $3,000,000 $3,986,065 $813,285 $0 N $3,000,000 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $5,400,000 $3,600,750 $1,799,350 $0 N $5,400,000 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Main Street Growth and Opportunity Coalition

    PO Box 41945
    Arlington, VA 22204