Senator Stabenow Tours Small Businesses in Eaton Rapids

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow met with business owners in Eaton Rapids as part of her small business tour across the state. Stabenow met with business owners at Auntie’s Deli, Pettit Hardware and Mark’s Place.

Stabenow’s tour has included over 100 stops in communities across the state including Coldwater, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Plymouth, Ann Arbor, East Tawas, Alpena, Three Rivers, Fenton, Marshall, Big Rapids, Ithaca, Mt. Pleasant, Bangor, South Haven, St. Johns, Lapeer, Imlay City, Portland, Ionia, Battle Creek, Albion, Harrison Township, Mount Clemens, Utica, Plainwell, Paw Paw, Benton Harbor, Monroe, Jackson, Flint, Bay City, Ludington, Onaway, Grand Haven, Hastings, Holland, Muskegon, Marquette, St. Ignace and Escanaba.

“Over the past year, I have had the pleasure of meeting with so many hardworking and innovative business owners in Michigan who help keep our economy growing,” said Senator Stabenow. “It was inspiring to talk with small business owners in Eaton Rapids who have invested their own time, money and ideas into making their businesses and their community successful.”

Recently, Senator Stabenow introduced the Growing Small Businesses Act to provide a 25 percent tax credit for small businesses that are getting started or planning to grow and expand. Since the 1970s, small businesses have created 55 percent of all new jobs but scaling up is one of the most expensive hurdles for a business.  Stabenow’s legislation supports businesses that are in the process of getting off the ground, as well as businesses that have started small and want to expand from an incubator or home into their first facility.

“So glad Senator Stabenow came to visit our small town,” said Kelly Lehto, Owner of Auntie’s Deli. “It truly means a lot that she could come to our store and meet with our customers.”

“It was a pleasure to visit with Senator Stabenow and show her my family hardware store,” said Mari Lin Pettit, Owner of Pettit Hardware. “It is a comfort to know that someone with her experience and history with the state of Michigan is watching out for us and especially the Great Lakes.”