Dadeville small businesses had their concerns heard by the head of government in the state of Alabama.
Gov. Robert Bentley addressed small business owners Friday as he stopped by the Homeplate Café as part of his Road to Economic Recovery Tour.
The goal of Bentley’s tour is to visit communities and discuss local economic conditions and state-level efforts to attract more jobs to Alabama.
Bentley said small businesses are an important part of the community, and for that reason it is essential to address their needs.
“I met with a lot of small business individuals here in this location and listened to their needs. That’s how I learn. I go all across the state,” Bentley said. “I do this one day a week and sometimes two days a week. I think it’s very important to listen to the people.”
“Most of your jobs are created by small businesses. What we try to do is listen to the needs of small businesses,” Bentley said. “We don’t have the organizational structure in place yet in the state to help small businesses like we do large manufacturing companies. We recruit those from all over the world. Well, a small business just arises by itself, so what we have to do is look at the different needs. There’s such a variation in small businesses, but there is some commonality.”
One question raised was concerning raising healthcare costs and their effects on small business owners.
Bentley said that as long as state governors like himself continue to resist the implementation of Obamacare, the federal government will be forced to make decisions concerning the Affordable Care Act, but ultimately it is a complex issue that needs to be tackled.
“We are going to have to have some kind of health insurance. I believe it should be on the private side. I believe very strongly in health savings accounts. I’m not even sure employers should own the insurance of people,” Bentley said. “Why should an employer pay for somebody’s insurance? You should own your own insurance.”
Bentley said he is currently putting measures into place the proper measures to help small businesses get what they need.
“What you do is you have the organizational structure in place that we are putting in place right now so that the needs that are there, you find out what they are and then route them in the right direction to get the answers to them,” Bentley said.
April 23, 2014
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