SMALL BUSINESS GROUPS ENDORSE GOV.
riley's SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVES
October 5, 2006
Montgomery- At a series of press conferences on Thursday, the National Federation of Independent Businesses announced their endorsement for Gov. Bob Riley in the 2006 General Election. In addition Chambers of Commerce from across the state also expressed their support of Gov. Riley’s Small Business Initiatives that he has outlined in his Plan 2010.
“As the previous owner of a number of small businesses, I sincerely appreciate the NFIB endorsement,” Gov. Riley said. “Small and independent businesses are the backbone of our booming economy. Alabama is leading the country in economic development, and small businesses are leading the way in Alabama.”
Gov. Riley is the only Alabama gubernatorial candidate that the NFIB has ever endorsed.
“I am also proud to have the support of dozens of Chambers of Commerce from every region of the state,” Gov. Riley added. “Our chambers have played a significant role in recruiting and retaining the businesses that have created more than 100,000 new jobs over the past four years.”
Gov. Riley’s Small Business Initiative includes tax incentives for small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees to give both employees and employers much-needed relief from rising healthcare costs. In order to keep Alabama’s economy growing, Gov. Riley also plans to offer additional incentives to Alabama industries to help them expand. The Governor also plans to create a Small Business Advocacy office to help streamline the state’s efforts in order to serve the needs of Alabama’s small businesses and existing industries.
Rosemary Elebash, State Director for the NFIB praised Gov. Riley’s record of helping small businesses succeed. “Gov. Riley has been an outstanding leader for Alabama’s small business owners in his first term,” Elebash said. “Alabama is friendlier to entrepreneurs in large part to Gov. Riley’s willingness to tackle important small business issues. NFIB’s small business members wholeheartedly endorse Bob Riley for another term.”
Ralph Stacy, President of the Chambers of Commerce Association of Alabama also applauded Gov. Riley’s record. “One of the major components of a sound economy is a governmental climate conducive to the growth of small businesses,” Stacy said. “Governor Riley's leadership has created just such an environment as evidenced by both record low unemployment and record high business growth.”
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