(Part 10 in an 11-week economic plan to get Michigan moving again and get our people back to work)

Any effort to get Michigan’s economy back on track has to pay special attention to small business. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are essential to strong main streets, strong communities, and a stronger Michigan. Unfortunately too often, small business issues are left out of the political discussion with politicians focusing far more on how to help Wall Street than Main Street. Here are some common sense ideas on how to support Michigan’s small businesses.

First, we need Michigan state government to address some of the core issues affecting whether or not Michigan’s small businesses remain competitive. These include ensuring adequate infrastructure – whether roads or high-speed connections – to connect small businesses to the global economy; quality schools and training programs to ensure an educated workforce; affordable transportation and housing options for Michigan workers; and efforts to market Michigan to the world, connecting small businesses with potential customers. No small business could possibly afford to do all this on their own, and we need a state government to provide these essential services effectively and efficiently.

In addition, small business needs a state government that will work to make Michigan’s overall business climate more competitive and predictable. We should also streamline regulation to reduce the amount of time business owners must spend filling out paperwork and get them back to doing what they do best: running their business. We can also do much more in Michigan to promote an entrepreneurial culture, including tax incentives for potential small business owners that are ready to make the leap. We should also expand our efforts to enhancing the vibrancy of our communities, downtown business districts and neighborhoods. People on the street mean people in the stores, and efforts such as the Michigan Main Street program are good examples of the positive role state government can play in keeping our main streets strong.

Finally, small business needs a state legislature that understands how best to use economic development tools to approve our local and state economy. As an advisor to a new community investment fund, working to create jobs in our area, I have direct, relevant experience in using new tools to make Northwest Michigan more attractive for businesses deciding whether to locate and expand here. My experience serving as co-chair of the economic development committee for the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce also gives me first hand experience with local efforts to improve our economy, including efforts to expand high-speed internet availability, working with local businesses to identify economic development goals and working to build awareness of existing local businesses across the local community.

As our next State Representative, I look forward to continuing to build relationships with our small business community, and making sure they have the representation they deserve in Lansing.