By U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins(R-Maine)
Maine is famous for lighthouses, lobsters – and drumsticks. Not the kind we enjoy at Thanksgiving, but the musical variety. Whether you enjoy rock or country bands, jazz combos or symphony orchestras, chances are you have heard the products of Vic Firth, Inc. of Newport in action. From a basement operation in his home in 1960, Vic Firth has grown his company to worldwide sales of more than 12 million drumsticks and percussion mallets per year, capturing 62 percent of the global market. I recently had the opportunity to visit this remarkable business. It is a success story based upon a few other things for which our state is famous: vision, energy, the entrepreneurial spirit; and a dedicated and skilled workforce.
Vic grew up in Sanford and Wells. Coming from a musical family, he studied many instruments, eventually gravitating to percussion. At 18, he was leading his own big band and went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music and Julliard. At 21, he became the youngest member of Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops. And, he began teaching at the New England Conservatory before he even graduated!
As his career advanced, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the stick and mallets commercially available, so he started making his own.
His craftsmanship and innovative designs soon attracted the attention of his colleagues and students. As word spread and orders poured in, the basement shop became a factory, now with 150 employees. The company now makes 260 models of sticks and mallets, with 40 percent of its output exported.
Incidentally, that Thanksgiving dinner you soon will sit down to enjoy may benefit from some non-musical products of Vic Firth, Inc. Capitalizing on its woodworking and design expertise, the company also produces a successful line of high-quality salt and pepper mills, and rolling pins for the home baker and the professional chef.
Like so many small businesses throughout Maine and across the country, the continued success of this outstanding company is not limited by its own commitment to excellence, but by external factors – in particular, the soaring costs of health care and of energy. As Congress continues to address the current global financial crisis, it is imperative that we refocus our attention on these two growing impediments to economic growth.
During my time in the Senate, I have been a strong advocate for programs to expand access to health care, particularly for citizens living in rural areas and with a special focus on the challenges faced by small businesses in providing coverage for their employees. The bipartisan Access to Affordable Health Care Act, which I authored, would provide tax credits to small businesses for employee health insurance expenses. In addition, it would provide grants to states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to develop innovative health programs to help small businesses provide quality, affordable coverage.
Although the recent decline in the price of oil is providing some relief at the gas pump and in heating bills, it is essential for Congress to move forward with legislation to help secure America’s energy future. The price declines are the result of the drop in economic activity around the world due to the financial crisis, and not because of any steps we have taken to increase domestic energy production, to develop renewable energy sources, or to use energy more efficiently. The economy will rebound, so we must not miss this opportunity to prevent energy prices from soaring again.
Now is the time to pursue the bold and innovative ideas that can meet America’s future energy needs. Solving the energy crisis requires the entrepreneurial spirit of the private sector, an understanding of the specific economic and environmental issues at stake, and a commitment to the research and development of new technologies.
The federal government must be a partner in this. From establishing a timeline for energy independence to expanding production and conservation tax credits, I am working with a bipartisan group of senators on comprehensive energy legislation.
Whenever I visit an operation such as Vic Firth, Inc., I am impressed by the imagination, commitment, and hard work of those in our small-business community. They are the key to the prosperity of our state and our nation. In these difficult economic times, it more crucial than ever that the federal government take decisive action on the persistent challenges of health care and energy so that their success can continue.
