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OPINION – In 2015, I co-founded FlowWest in Oakland with a simple idea: put talented people to work solving real problems for our state. Over the years, our company has grown from 3 to 30 employees—scientists, engineers, planners, software developers, and data scientists who live here, pay taxes here, and want to keep building a stronger Bay Area and a stronger California.

But like thousands of small businesses across the country, we’re facing a level of uncertainty that’s impossible to plan around. As a government contractor, much of our work depends on federal programs and agencies that are now impacted by the government shutdown. Projects are stalled. Invoices are sitting unpaid. And opportunities for new work are in limbo. For a small business, this isn’t about politics—it’s about payroll.

This week I’ll join more than 2,000 small business owners from across the country—200 of them from California—in Washington, D.C., for the largest-ever gathering of entrepreneurs at the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit. We’re coming together to advocate for policies that matter most to our employees, our customers, and our communities. But this year, that conversation takes on a different tone. The very foundation of what we’re asking for—predictability and stability—has been shaken by this shutdown.

According to a new national survey of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni, 72% of small business owners say it’s important for Congress to find a bipartisan solution to fund the government. Sixteen percent—like me—are federal contractors or subcontractors whose revenue is directly impacted. Twenty percent rely on federal agencies and contractors as part of their business, and nearly a quarter report that their customers are government employees whose paychecks—and spending—are now at risk.

These numbers tell a story that every small business owner knows too well: when Washington stops, local economies suffer. Cash flow dries up. Contracts are delayed. Demand falls as uncertainty rises. We don’t have the massive reserves or political safety nets that large corporations do—we survive on consistency and trust that the system will work as promised.

At FlowWest, our work supports California’s resilience—restoring rivers, protecting infrastructure, and helping agencies plan for a changing climate. When those projects pause, it doesn’t just affect my team—it slows progress for entire communities. Small firms like ours are often the local partners turning federal funding into visible results. We employ the people who implement programs, not just write them.

Small business owners are, by nature, resilient and optimistic. In fact, nearly 75% of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses alumni still plan to grow in the coming year. But optimism alone can’t overcome the real-world consequences of instability. You can’t make long-term investments in your business and community when your contracts are frozen or when interest rates and access to capital remain unpredictable.

We’re not asking for handouts—we’re asking for a stable environment in which to operate. That means a functioning government, timely payments for work performed, and policies that strengthen access to capital so we can weather these disruptions without laying people off. Tools like federal programs and incentives that help small businesses innovate and stay competitive are vital for companies like mine, but they’re only useful if we can plan and invest with confidence.

California’s small businesses are the engine of our economy. We create jobs, drive innovation, and keep local communities vibrant. But we can’t do any of that if we’re constantly bracing for the next shutdown. My message to lawmakers is simple: give us the certainty to keep working.

When small businesses have stability, we don’t just grow—we help California and the nation move forward.

Mark Tompkins is a Principal & Co-Founder of FlowWest, LLC, an Oakland-based consulting firm focused on water, ecosystems, science, and technology.

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