The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation will host the 45th Annual Small Business Forum from 1:00 to 5:00 pm ET on March 9 at the SEC’s Headquarters (plus a live webcast). Registration information and the full agenda will be available soon. As the announcement notes, “What makes the Forum unique is the opportunity for the public to suggest and prioritize capital-raising policy recommendations that will be delivered to Congress.” The Q&A about the event explains:

What is the Forum?  The Forum is an annual event that brings together members of the public and private sectors—including entrepreneurs, small business leaders, investors, and those that support them across the small business ecosystem—to discuss and provide suggestions to improve securities policy affecting how companies raise capital from investors.

The Forum culminates in policy recomendations. How do audience members participate? We invite all participants to provide policy recommendations in advance of the live event. The event culminates with an opportunity for all participants – whether attending in person or virtually – to vote to prioritize the submitted recommendations. The top recommendations are published in a report that the SEC delivers to Congress.

If ever there was a year to submit your thoughts, this is it! Filer status and capital formation are on the Commission’s rulemaking agenda, and SEC Staff members have reiterated the current “open door policy” at every speaking event. It seems pretty clear that public input is welcome, even outside these more formal opportunities. So, here’s how to do that:

Please submit your policy recommendations in advance by emailing them to smallbusiness@sec.gov by 12:00 p.m. ET March 5. Voting will open at the end of the event and remain open until 9:00 p.m. ET on March 9.

– Meredith Ervine