Snowe’s staff on listening tour; business owners concerned about economy, energy, jobs, regulation

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Job retention, sales and foreign competition are plaguing Aroostook County like so many other areas of the country. And that’s exactly what small business owners conveyed during a first-hand opportunity to speak directly to U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe’s (R-Maine) staff on her Small Business Committee last week.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
TALK OF THE TOWN — Town Manager Doug Hazlett, left, explains some of the issues business owners face in northern Maine’s rural areas. With him are Sharon Campbell, regional representative to U.S. Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, Matt Walker, deputy staff director of the senate small business committee and Wally Hsueh, staff director of the committee.
    The Washington, D.C.-based staffers said they were in the county to learn more about the issues business owners are facing on a daily basis. When the tour visited Houlton last Wednesday, Wally Hsueh, committee staff director, said small business owners told him their concerns revolved around several uncertainties —  getting out of the recession, impending regulations, jobs and energy costs. Hsueh added that competition with Canada is another factor that shopkeepers and business owners are facing here.
    In a statement to the Pioneer Times, Snowe said: “I sent my staff on the Small Business Committee to Aroostook County to see the region firsthand and to meet with the many small businesses that are vital to the region and economy. I am pleased my staff had this tremendous opportunity, which will be crucial as I continue my work on behalf of our small businesses which are the economic engines of our nation.”
Market Square tour
    The group toured Market Square businesses, and heard from Gail Scovill, co-owner of Country North Gifts. She said: “I hope business will pick up.” One of the ways for Scovill and other merchants to expand is through the Internet, said Matt Walker. He explained that Snowe’s bill for small businesses includes a provision to provide better access to loans so that owners can expand exports, especially since about 75 percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. “By setting up a website and getting the word out,” said Walker, is one way a business can create a demand outside the immediate area and export more products.
    As for getting outside the area, he and Hsueh, both agreed that Snowe “understands the importance of getting out from behind the desk and talking to people.” Hsueh said he visits the state up to seven times a year and the county at least once a year. Sharon Campbell, Snowe’s regional representative accompanied the group of 13 who toured northern areas before arriving in Houlton and the message was consistent – business has slowed down. “We’re happy they are here and that we have the support of the D.C. staff,” said Campbell.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
SHOPPE TALK — Karen Keber, left, owner of Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe and daughter, Britney, waited on Washington-based visitors during their listening tour in Houlton. Wally Hsueh, staff director of the senate small business committee and his staff heard first-hand accounts of issues facing entrepreneurs.
    Walker said he was not surprised to hear that sales are down. Hsueh said the small business bill Snowe is pushing for has tax incentives and better terms for access to credit if a business is viable. He added a proviso — any business help would not be a bailout giving a nod to the current public distaste for more government spending. “It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs.”
    Town Manager Doug Hazlett joined part of the tour and said it was “wonderful to have folks come up from Washington to see what we face every day since the issues and challenges are different in rural areas.” Among those issues is the need for affordable energy. Hsueh remarked that he sees a push toward more energy-efficient “green” jobs and construction like the new apartments in Market Square. (See related story in this section.)
    By the time Hsueh and his staff arrived at Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe, they were, indeed, ready to shop. “It was a very nice experience,” said Karen Keber who relocated to Houlton from Lawrence, Mass to start her business. When they asked how she financed her old-fashioned candy store, now sporting a bright red and white-striped awning, Keber explained that credit was not an issue last year since she was self-financed.
    However, for many entrepreneurs, financing is a major issue. Record cash, sitting idle on many American corporate and bank balance sheets, is not circulating in the economy and is blamed, in part, for the stall in the nation’s recovery. Hsueh said the senator’s bill will address that in an effort to ease credit and lending procedures for small businesses “that are looking to expand and doing well.”
    After Keber and her daughter Britney waited on their visitors who chose a number of sweets, chocolate being the most popular, they eventually headed to the Courtyard Café for dinner and a special recognition for Joyce Transue. (See related story in this section.)