A New Deal for American Entrepreneurship
The time is right for this bill. America stands at an economic crossroads. Too many families remain trapped in cycles of financial insecurity, owing to rising costs, stagnating wages, and diminishing opportunities for upward mobility. Homeownership and economic independence, once staples of the middle class, have become increasingly unattainable. Meanwhile, a recent McKinsey study forecasts that AI and automation could displace up to 30 percent of American work hours in the next five years, increasing the risk of unemployment and underemployment in critical sectors. The economically devastating "big, beautiful bill" already slashes access to our most critical safety nets in SNAP and Medicaid. When AI-driven labor displacement begins, demanding that benefit recipients "go find work" as that work is evaporating means sentencing families to financial ruin. We must act swiftly and take bold steps to give Americans a chance at financial freedom in an increasingly unfair system.
A sold sign is posted in front of a house in Washington, D.C.
A sold sign is posted in front of a house in Washington, D.C.
STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
Nevada's Homegrown Opportunity Act is a template for America to do just that. The bill proposes a novel yet pragmatic solution rooted in entrepreneurship. In its initial implementation, the legislation would provide entrepreneurs with two years of housing, food, and essential services in exchange for launching and maintaining businesses. It sets a target for Nevada to convert unused commercial real estate stock to launch 10,000 residential units, with at least 75 percent allocated to low-income Nevadans that just need an opportunity and a hand up.
As currently proposed, it would create 50,000 new home-grown businesses and provide a hand up to 37,500 low-income entrepreneurs in just its first 10 years. In a state of just over 3 million people, that level of impact could reshape Nevada's future for generations. That is an economic vision that folks can see and feel, and it can be adopted anywhere, from Detroit to Fresno.
Consider the young innovator priced out of housing in New York City, or the skilled worker displaced by automation in Ohio. The Homegrown Opportunity Act breaks down barriers to entry and empowers those individuals to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams without being hindered by immediate financial pressures. It leverages entrepreneurial spirit as a shield against economic uncertainty and technological disruption.
This legislation is an investment that rests on a fair deal: your contribution back to the program is modest, limited in duration, and tied to your level of future financial success. Participants would repay housing costs through a modest revenue-based fee that would sunset after each business' first 10 years of operation and through conditional-debt instruments that apply only if the participant's income crosses into the top 10 percent of earners. In short, the program sustains itself on the success stories of its participants, and that success fuels further reinvestment into elevating working-class families and communities.
Imagine the retail worker in East Las Vegas with a dream for her own shop that she'll never realize because she has to fight daily to keep a roof over her head. Imagine the teenager in Reno whose family depends on food assistance programs who is just thinking about how to get by. The Homegrown Opportunity Act gives them back the heart of the American Dream: a chance at financial independence.
Some may be skeptical of this approach because it is a significant departure from the solutions of the past, but there has never been a greater urgency to act boldly and try new things. Our economic problems will not be resolved on their own or by rehashing the same policy debates we've had for years. This approach breaks through the noise and through ideological lines. It recognizes the need for productive market intervention without discouraging market growth. It's a practical alternative that promotes our shared values of economic prosperity and self-determination. And it's a return to what America does best: innovation and opportunity.
We urge policymakers nationwide to join us in championing Nevada's Homegrown Opportunity Act, and we urge our congressional colleagues to dedicate resources to investing in states that are willing to break new ground in pursuing this housing-for-opportunity model. By embracing this fresh vision, we can begin to renew the promise of the American Dream, unlocking economic prosperity, innovation, and genuine opportunity for every American.
Congressman Ro Khanna is serving his fifth term representing the heart of Silicon Valley which is the technology engine for the nation. As a leading progressive voice in Congress, he is working to get money out of politics, offer a fresh economic vision to improve life for the working class, and make America a manufacturing superpower. He was co-chair of Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. He previously served as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama.
Nevada Assemblymember Joe Dalia is an attorney, former startup co-founder and COO, and father of three girls located in Henderson, Nev., where he represents his childhood Assembly district. Prior to serving in the legislature, Joe spent several years advising technology startups and venture capital firms in Palo Alto before moving home to Henderson. He graduated with high honors from both Boston University (economics and political science) and the University of Michigan Law School, and is a former intern for the late Senator Harry Reid.
The views expressed in this article are the writers' own.
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