Senator Stabenow Tours Small Businesses in Munising

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow met with business owners in Munising as part of her small business tour across the state. Stabenow met with business owners at VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market, Muldoons Pasties and the Pictured Rocks Boat Cruises.

Stabenow’s tour has included over 110 stops in communities across the state including Eaton Rapids, 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, Escanaba and Newberry.

“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 Munising 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.

“The Senator was truly engaged with our discussions, and interested in our Company, our commercial fishing company is celebrating our 104 anniversary,” said Dennis VanLandschoot, Owner of VanLandschoot & Sons Fish Market. “I felt she fully understood the Legacy and our challenges as a small business.”

“Happy that Senator Stabenow is interested and concerned about small businesses like ours,” said Tony Grahovac, Co-Owner of Muldoon’s Pasties & Gifts. “It is great to have someone in Washington who cares about us and is working to fight for small businesses.”