The National Republican Congressional Committee has launched a new donor program aimed at small-business owners, according to spokesman Paul Lindsay.

Employer Nation is a new grass-roots and fundraising initiative sponsored by House Republicans and aimed at private employers.

“Its purpose is to elect Representatives in Congress who will advance a pro-employer agenda and fight for the policies that encourage and reward those who start, run and grow small businesses,— Lindsay said.

The program will solicit current and new donors to the NRCC, and aims to organize nondonor members. The committee will announce its membership Sept. 16 on Employer Nation Day.

According to the committee, the program already has 2,500 “associate members.— Membership for the program is tiered, and “executive members— and “board members— will get additional access to top Republicans, including House Minority Leader John Boehner (Ohio) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.