Washington women entrepreneurs press Congress to protect AI and digital ads

By AI, Created 8:05 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – Five women-owned Washington businesses went to Washington, D.C., during National Small Business Week to tell lawmakers that personalized advertising and AI tools are essential to growth, visibility and competitiveness. The entrepreneurs warned that restrictions on targeted ads could make it harder for small businesses to reach customers and compete with larger companies.

Why it matters: - Small businesses say digital ads and AI tools help level the playing field against larger competitors with bigger marketing budgets. - The entrepreneurs argued that limits on targeted advertising could reduce visibility, sales and long-term growth for Main Street businesses. - Washington State estimates shared at the event tied Meta’s advertising tools to more than 100,000 jobs and about $16 billion in annual economic activity in the state.

What happened: - Five women-owned businesses from Washington State traveled to Washington, D.C., during National Small Business Week, May 3-9, to advocate for small businesses and digital tools. - The participants were Diane Najm of Designa AI, Erin Alexander of Finally Social, Valarie L. Harris of Varris Marketing, Heather Saulsbury of PNWBUSHCRAFT and Jen Jedda of JJCaprices. - The group met with staff from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray’s office to discuss the role of personalized advertising and AI-powered tools in small business growth. - Meta leadership selected the businesses for the trip.

The details: - The entrepreneurs said personalized advertising helps them reach the right audiences, stretch limited marketing budgets and increase sales. - The group said AI-powered tools help streamline operations, save time and improve competitiveness in a digital marketplace. - Washington State has about 75,000 small businesses that use AI tools regularly to streamline operations. - Nearly three-quarters of businesses that advertise say digital ads are the most effective way to reach customers. - Valarie L. Harris said technology policy should focus on fair access to digital platforms, responsible AI use and simpler rules for small business owners. - Diane Najm said AI legislation should support responsible innovation and ensure minority and underserved communities are not overlooked. - Erin Alexander said AI can help small businesses work smarter, stay consistent and compete with larger companies without losing a personal voice. - Heather Saulsbury said the trip created a chance to network with business owners nationwide, speak with Meta executives and share a Washington small business perspective with Sen. Murray’s team. - The entrepreneurs also said the advertising cost gap between small and large businesses is a major challenge. - The group said restrictions on targeted advertising could sharply limit small businesses’ ability to reach customers. - Najm said Main Street businesses face very different resource limits than large corporations and need access to the digital tools they rely on every day. - The participants said the Meta Boost event gave them a platform to share their stories and advocate for small businesses nationwide. - The group said small businesses are the heart of their communities and thanked Meta for amplifying entrepreneur voices. - The entrepreneurs said digital tools such as personalized advertising and AI are essential to growth, visibility and long-term success. - Social links provided with the release include Diane Najm on LinkedIn, Diane Najm on Instagram and Diane Najm on Facebook.

Between the lines: - The message was as much about policy as technology: the businesses framed AI and targeted ads as infrastructure for small business survival, not just marketing features. - The visit also shows how tech companies are using small business voices to argue that ad targeting and AI should remain broadly available. - The focus on women-owned and minority-owned businesses suggests the policy debate is being tied to access, inclusion and economic opportunity.

What’s next: - The entrepreneurs are likely to keep pushing lawmakers to protect access to digital advertising and AI tools as policy debates continue. - Small business owners will keep using the trip’s message to argue that digital tools should remain affordable, accessible and effective for smaller operators. - Future legislation or regulation around AI and targeted advertising could directly affect how Washington’s small businesses find customers and compete.