Small businesses are getting some big attention from Marketplace.

I'm Sabrie Benashore and for David Brancaccio.

Entrepreneurs are getting their turn in the political spotlight.

Later today, Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to unveil a new plan to support small

businesses.

This comes just as the Treasury Department unveils a new post-pandemic pulse check on small

business owners, marketplaces Nancy Marshall Genser reports.

The Treasury Department looks at the health of small businesses before the pandemic, that is when

former President Trump was in office, and now.

It says there are now more than 400,000 new business applications

a month, 50% more than in 2019. The Treasury Department report also points to

arise in the Small Business optimism index from the National Federation of

Independent Business. Treasury says it's now at its highest level in two years, but it's still

hard for small businesses to get a loan.

Goldman Sachs would like that to be a topic at the debate next week between Trump and Vice President

Harris.

Goldman's 10,000 small businesses voices non-profit, unveiled a

billboard in Times Square Monday calling on the debate

moderators to ask the candidates about credit for small

businesses, workforce development, and how to make child care more accessible

for employees.

I'm Nancy Marshall Genser for Marketplace.

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