Berlin Daily Sun - Ayotte Talks Small Business During Visit to WREN

News Article

By Kirstan Knowlton

During her visit to the WREN Works Maker Studio, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte meet with several small business owners who voiced the need for less regulations and greater access to high-speed internet.

After receiving a tour of the facility from WREN Maker Studio and Farmers Market Coordinator Christina Lefebvre, Ayotte joined several local small business owners for a round table style discussion.

Maria Neal of Randolph started the discussion by explaining how many entrepreneurs juggle several jobs to create a sustainable life in the North County.

"To live in the North Country you have to put together a diverse source of income," said Maria Neal.

Neal works as a potter, runs a family maple sugar business and her husband works for the White Mountain National Forest as a firefighter. Their future plans include owning a rental property.

Even those with a consistent source of income like Gorham English teacher Heather Piche, find creative solutions to combine activities that they love and creating a source of additional income for their family.

Piche teaches several classes at WREN and comes to the studio to decompress and work on her craft.

During the discussion both Neal and Piche expressed concerned over the idea that small businesses of 500 employees or less are held to the same policies as businesses with only a few employees.

"Micro-business is still a business," said Neal.

Liz Penney, executive director of WREN, explained their mission to support entrepreneurs by providing opportunities to explore their interests.

"WREN is different. It's very hands on and community orientated. It's all about opportunity," Penney said.

While discussing changes that can be made at a national level with the help of Ayotte and her staff, Lefebvre cited more support for farmers.

Just like the definition of small businesses, smaller local farmers are subject to the same policies that are used to regulate big farms.

Ayotte agreed that many of the policies were created for big farmers, and that these policies don't work for smaller operations. Lefebvre also notes that these policies often restrict people from pursuing their goal of business ownership.

"We need to let you go out there and be entrepreneurs," Ayotte said.

Access to high-speed internet has also been a challenge for many people living in Northern New Hampshire, and can create barriers for business development.

Ayotte talked about the need for increased funding and referenced the Universal Service Fund, which is supported by internet and telephone companies though a line item on the bill.

Currently, for every dollar that is collected only 40 cents gets used for high-speed internet development in rural areas. Ayotte has been working to increase the amount of money being allocated to the fund. New Hampshire is one of the lowest in the nation for funding internet development.

"We can do that, we know how to build that," said Ayotte.

Lefebvre compared internet to plumbing, and no longer considers it a privilege reserved for some individuals.

Ayotte who liked the analogy, said she wanted to use that comparison in the future.

Source