Issue Position: Supporting Small Businesses, Growing the Local Economy

Issue Position

Our small businesses are the backbone of our economy. More than half of the new jobs created in Minnesota are created by small businesses. When our local businesses do well, our state does well.

Government needs to be a platform for our small businesses. Owning a successful small business myself, I know how government can both hurt and help.

Support for a local economy starts at the most basic level- in the community. About 70 cents of a dollar spent at a local business stays in that community.

I know what it takes to create local jobs. I created them with the help of my supportive customers. After just eight years, my café has grown from 20 employees to 70 employees, and we are still growing.

Minnesota must continue to be a place where businesses, large and small, set their roots and grow. With incentives for new hires, we could not only encourage businesses to settle here, but boost the amount of jobs they create.

Classes should be offered to aid local businesses through coaching them on what to expect, how to trouble shoot common problems, etc. When we support new businesses on the front end, we don't have to worry about them on the back end.

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