Kelly Loeffler Visits Local Vermont Manufacturing Business

WILLISTON, Vt. — Kelly Loeffler visited Vermont on Tuesday. Loeffler is the administrator for the federal Small Business Administration.

According to the SBA, there are over 80,000 small businesses in the state of Vermont. Loeffler visited the state to discuss the Trump administration’s plan to boost manufacturing, specifically for small businesses.

Loeffler said using robotics and new technology was a way to bring back industries that have gone overseas, and help the American worker to learn more competitive skills to boost the local workforce. She said the federal government is working to support growth through small business loans and support services.

“We’re out going across the country making sure people know the SBA’s core services, our business counseling, our credit, our access to capital through Main Street lenders is available; we’re advocating for a loan increase from $5 million to a maximum of $10 million,” said Loeffler.

The Vermont congressional delegation was not at Tuesday’s event, but Congresswoman Becca Balint agreed that supporting small businesses was important, especially in manufacturing. However, she emphasized that it’s necessary to look at the full picture when it comes to filling job vacancies.

“You cannot deal with just one aspect of the economy without looking at all of the pieces that are holding us back right now in Vermont. So, you have to look at the issue of tariffs, you have to look at the issue of housing, you have to look at the health care crisis that we have right now in Vermont,” said Balint