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August 26, 2010

Sens. Schmitz and Kreiman focus on Main Street, creating jobs and building a lasting recovery

Daily Iowegian

OTTUMWA — State Sens. Keith Kreiman of Ottumwa and Becky Schmitz of Fairfield say Iowa small businesses are the key to a lasting economic recovery.  The senators held a public meeting in Ottumwa to help grow Main Street business. They were joined by special guest Sen. Tom Rielly of Oskaloosa, a small business owner, former mayor, and the chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.

“Main Street businesses are the backbone of our communities, not Wall Street,” said Sen. Kreiman.  “We need to focus on giving small businesses the tools they need to succeed so that they can create well-paying jobs here in Ottumwa.”

Sens. Kreiman and Schmitz cited the new “Save Our Small Business Fund” and expanded free consulting services at Iowa Small Business Development Centers as examples of 2010 legislative efforts to help small businesses grow.  According to an independent study by the University of Mississippi, clients of Iowa’s Small Business Development Centers grew 3.5 times faster than the average Iowa business in the last three years and increased revenues by $240 million.

 “As a small business owner myself, I can see that Senators Kreiman and Schmitz ‘get it.’ They recognize that small businesses are the job creators of the Iowa economy,” said Sen. Rielly.  “We’re starting to see results from their efforts.  CNBC recently ranked Iowa the sixth best state in the country for doing business, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce just put us in the top ten states for policies that support private sector job creation.”

 “I continue to look to small business owners for ideas that will encourage growth in our local communities,” said Senator Schmitz.  “The national recognition Iowa is receiving shows we’re making progress, but clearly there is a lot of work left to do.”

 Here’s a summary of the economic development measures:

• Helping small businesses grow and create jobs:  The Legislature created a $5 million “Save Our Small Business Fund,” which makes low-interest loans ranging of $2,500 to $50,000 to businesses with 35 or fewer employees (www.ISBLoan.org). The Legislature also expanded the Linked Investment for Tomorrow fund, which helps small businesses negotiate with banks (www.iowalift.com).

• Expanding one-on-one technical consulting:  The Legislature expanded Small Business Development Centers, which help business owners by providing free access to experts and to research, counseling, and training in management, financing, and operating small businesses (www.iowasbdc.org).

• Building a community of entrepreneurs:  The Legislature increased funding for MyEntre.net, an online community for Iowa’s small businesses and entrepreneurs that provides interactive education, peer learning and other business services (www.myentre.net).

• Supporting clean energy jobs:  The Legislature created the Iowa Power Fund, a four-year, $100 million initiative to grow Iowa’s energy economy, help family farmers become more profitable and reduce our dependence on foreign oil (www.energy.iowa.gov/Power_Fund).

• Fostering innovation:  The Legislature established an Innovation Council and supported Iowa’s high-tech industries through grants and other assistance for new product development efforts (www.iowaentrepreneur.com/innovation_commercialization).

• Getting a better deal on health insurance: The Legislature helped small businesses form purchasing pools for health care, which lowers the cost of insurance.

• Providing Iowa businesses with skilled workers: The Legislature increased funding for job training programs at our community colleges, which provide an affordable, high-quality education to tens of thousands of Iowans each year.  Job training programs work directly with local businesses to meet their specific workforce needs.

• Making state contracts available to small businesses:  The Legislature required the Iowa Department of Transportation to set aside 10 percent of its contracts for bidding by small businesses.

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So, the question this week is, “Will it stay or will it go?” The United States Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C. wants to close three Farm Service Agency offices in southern Iowa, which includes the FSA office in Centerville, and consolidate the operations in order to save money. Tuesday afternoon a meeting was held at Faith United Methodist Church to allow farmers and other producers who use the Centerville FSA office to make comments about the closing to John R. Whitaker, state executive director Iowa FSA. Many questioned if the meeting Tuesday was necessary because the decision had already been made.

A. Yes, because Washington will listen.
B. No, because the decision to close the Appanoose County FSA office has already been made.
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