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Hagan hosts first meeting of Small Business Advisory Committee in Charlotte
Story Date: 8/27/2013
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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 8/26/13
U.S. Senator Kay Hagan today hosted the first meeting of her Small Business Advisory Committee in Charlotte, which is comprised of small business owners and advocates from across the state who advise her on legislative issues and assist in the development of policy proposals to support North Carolina's small businesses. Hagan was joined at the event by Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, as well as the Committee’s four co-chairs and its members. At the meeting, the Committee discussed the regulatory and workforce issues facing the small business community, as well as access to capital and the state of business lending.
“My top priority in the Senate is growing our economy, and it’s critically important that we have legislation that reflects the needs of small business owners on the ground who are creating jobs and hiring workers,” said Senator Hagan, a member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee. “Each and every one of the distinguished Committee members has the experience and expertise to help shape a better environment for small business in North Carolina, and I look forward to taking their ideas and advice back to Washington.”
"Small businesses are the economic engine of this country, especially here in North Carolina," said Committee co-chair Oscar Wong, Founder and Owner of Highland Brewing Company in Asheville and the Small Business Administration's 2012 Person of the Year. "As the founder and owner of a small business in Asheville, I'm glad to be here for the first full Small Business Advisory Committee meeting with Senator Hagan to talk about how federal policies can help small business like mine grow and thrive across North Carolina."
"I'm glad that Senator Hagan has made it a top priority to find ways to foster a better environment for boosting entrepreneurship and innovation," said Paul Wetenhall, Committee Co-chair and President of Ventureprise, a public-private non-profit affiliated with UNC Charlotte. "Today's conversation about regulatory complexity and workforce development touches on the pressing issues facing North Carolina's small businesses."
"With these dialogues, small businesses are able to voice their concerns to help improve the regulatory environment," said Dr. Winslow Sargeant, Chief Counsel for the SBA Office of Advocacy. "Our nation's game changers remain vibrant when our nation's leaders hear about challenges and learn about the best practices to keep our economy moving forward. On behalf of America's small businesses, Advocacy will go back to the White House and federal agencies with solutions to enhance the small business economy."
"Washington needs more input and ideas from small business leaders who are on the ground creating jobs and growing the economy," said John Cooper, Committee Co-Chair and Owner of the Mast General Store system. "I'm excited to be a part of Senator Hagan's Small Business Advisory Committee to help jump-start that dialogue here in Charlotte and across North Carolina."
Creating jobs and growing the economy have been Hagan's number one priority in the Senate. Hagan's bipartisan AMERICA Works Act that recently advanced in the Senate would close the skills gap by encouraging our nation's job training programs to match the skills of workers with the needs of local employers.
Hagan has also supported measures that increase access to capital for small business owners looking to grow their companies, and she supported the Jumpstart Our Businesses Startups (JOBS) Act, which makes it easier for companies to raise money, go public and hire more workers.
Additionally, Hagan fought for the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which doesn't add one dime to the deficit and has supported $2 billion in export sales by 165 North Carolina companies, the majority of which are small businesses.
Last Congress, Hagan introduced the Small Business Common Application Act to reduce the paperwork burden that small businesses face when applying for federal assistance by establishing a common application. Hagan introduced the bill after a Small Business Administration study revealed that businesses with less than 20 employees may spend more than $10,500 per employee to comply with federal regulations.
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