Johnson Highlights Efforts to Turn Economy Around with Business Leaders in Sioux Falls

Press Release

U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) talked about his efforts to turn around the toughest recession since the Great Depression during a roundtable with business and economic development leaders today in Sioux Falls. Johnson highlighted the recent passage of a jobs bill, called the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act (HIRE Act), that will help grow small businesses, spur job creation and continue transportation projects that otherwise may not have moved forward.

"Much of what it takes to turn this economy around will be done with the help of business leaders like those I met with today," said Johnson. "I've supported a series of measures that cut through the red tape and make it easier for local South Dakota businesses to hire new workers. I'm glad I got the chance to tell local business leaders about how legislation in Washington will have a real impact for workers and employers on Main Street."

Joining Johnson at the event was John Brown, District Director, Small Business Administration; Joe Helvig, Hartford Building Center; Lynn Keller Forbes, Executive Director, Dakota BUSINESS Finance and Southeast Council of Governments; Rich Naser, Executive Director, South Dakota Technology Business Center; Scott Peterson, Classified Verticals and Slater Barr, President, Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Johnson highlighted the impact of the jobs bill that recently passed Congress with strong bipartisan support. The legislation includes four bipartisan initiatives to spur the economy, including incentives for hiring and retaining currently unemployed workers, allowing businesses to write off up to $250,000 in certain expenditures, building on the successful Build America Bonds program to help local governments finance more infrastructure projects and extending existing highway programs to provide states and communities with continued funding for important projects. The bill is fully paid for.

"South Dakota hasn't been among the hardest hit states during this recession, but we can't stop in our efforts to pass legislation that strengthens our local economy. Businesses and local governments have already received important resources from the stimulus, and the jobs bill will help move us forward in our efforts to get our economy on more solid footing," continued Johnson.

Johnson is holding a series of events across South Dakota during the Congressional District Work Period. He has already held additional events in Sioux Falls, Madison, Aberdeen, Brookings, Watertown, and Centerville. He will hold events in Rapid City and Spearfish later this week before heading back to Washington.

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