A Week in the Third District: Capitol Solutions

Statement

This past week was National Small Business Week and I visited small businesses across the Third District. I spoke with small business owners, employees, and community leaders seeing the benefits of tax relief firsthand. From bonuses to wage increases to business expansion, Iowa communities are feeling positive effects of Iowans keeping more of their hard-earned dollars.

I started off the week in Urbandale at a round table with a combination of business owners and employees who are members of the Urbandale Chamber of Commerce.

One small business owner said, "When the new income tax calculations came out, my employees all asked why their paychecks were bigger." The small business owner went on to inform the employees it was the result of the new tax relief law. I continue to hear stories like this across the District.

And its not just the employees of small businesses benefiting, employees of larger businesses are benefitting from the tax relief law. I took my turn behind the counter as a barista at Starbucks in Johnston. For about an hour, I took coffee drink orders, learned how to make different drinks, and surprised a few unsuspecting drive-thru customers. I also sat down with employees who told me about their wages increasing and new opportunities being presented as a result of tax relief.

I joined almost 200 folks at Forge in Des Moines to celebrate their expansion to Jefferson, IA. Forge is a technology laboratory hub and led by Pillar Technology - a small tech company using innovative and advanced practices and collaborations to decentralize their company. They use the internet to connect employers and employees and create collaborations across Iowa at their Forge technology development centers. Forge helps Iowans land high-tech jobs and stay in the more rural areas of the state.

The Job Creators Network came to Jethro's BBQ "n Bacon Bacon in West Des Moines. I was joined by a group of small business owners, including a representative of SHAZAM in Johnston. SHAZAM recently announced $1,000 bonuses to their employees and additional workers will be hired as a result of tax relief.

A Jethro's co-owner spoke about how employees at their many locations are taking home more money because of tax relief. He said, "Our employees are bringing home more money, everyone across the board is taking home more money. And I can't be more clear about that. It's helping the people that work for us."

I also toured and visited with employees at H&H Trailers in Clarinda. They build high-quality steel and aluminum trailers for transporting and hauling. Their employees have more take home pay because of the tax relief law and they are investing in and expanding their business.

I also visited small businesses in Corning and Greenfield. And I attended the First Friday Chamber Meet Up in Stuart at Ruby's to meet and talk with small business owners.

I love traveling across the Third District. It's one reason why I visit each of the 16 counties in the District monthly. Over the past few months, I've heard more positive stories about wage increases and business expansion with more confidence in the economy. As more start to realize the benefits of tax relief and job opportunities, these sentiments are only going to grow. It's only right to give Iowans more control of their hard-earned paychecks. They deserve it.

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