Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce Business Journal Q3 2015 | Page 11

U.S. Senator Mike Enzi
Progress for Small Business
I rely on my years of experience
running a business in Wyoming
to guide my work in the Senate,
especially when working on
issues in the Small Business and
Entrepreneurship Committee.
Unfortunately, over the last few
years, the committee hasn’t been
as active as many of us would
like. With a new majority this
Congress, the committee is back
to work and it is refreshing to see
members working together in a
bipartisan manner by considering
and passing bills to help support

in the 7(a) program authorization
level to $20.5 billion in fiscal year
2015 and $23.5 billion in fiscal
year 2016. The 7(a) loan offers
flexibility, like longer terms and
lower down payments, compared
to other types of business
financing.

The committee also took action
to pass one of my bills, the Small
Business Fairness Act, which
would help small businesses
better compete for federal
contracts by requiring
agencies to consider
Some of these bills have a more
their past experience and
direct positive effect on small
“With a new majority this
qualifications when they
business in Wyoming than others,
Congress, the committee is back band together to work
but every action that assists small
to work and it is refreshing to
in teams to compete
businesses and entrepreneurs is
see members working together for larger contracts.
good for all of us and good for the
in a bipartisan manner by
This bill is a win-win.
country.
considering and passing bills to Small businesses will
help support small businesses
be in better shape
across the country.”
Washington doesn’t always do it like
to successfully team
Wyoming, especially when it comes
together and the federal
to small business, but movement
government will get a
small businesses across the
on these small business issues is a
better return on dollars spent for
country. At the end of April, the
great step in the right direction.
goods and services.
committee was able to pass eight
bills, several of which had been
considered by this committee
STATE OF small BUSINESS REPORT STASTISTICS
in past Congresses, or were
helpful programs that need to be
reauthorized.
47% of Small Businesses have more confidence in
our economy than 12 months ago.
These bills would accomplish
a variety of goals ranging from
updating and reauthorizing the
Small Business Development
Center (SBDC) program, to
reinstating the 504 refinance
program to allow small
businesses to refinance existing
qualified commercial real estate
debt through the 504 loan
program, to providing an increase

57% of Small Businesses expect to receive an
increase in revenue in 2015.
38% of Small Businesses expect to hire
additional employees in 2015.

Q3 2015 BUSINESS JOURNAL

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