Government is back open. Time to give small business a seat at the table

Lawmakers and small businesses need to work together to drive Iowa’s economy forward. Last month, I traveled to Washington, D.C., with 48 Iowa entrepreneurs as part of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Summit and met with Sen. Grassley and Sen. Ernst. Their willingness to listen and engage with us made a real impact.

In all, more than 2,000 small business owners from across the country attended the summit. We shared our stories, advocated for policy certainty, and learned from each other. Despite challenges like rising costs and the recent government shutdown, small businesses remain optimistic: 78% are confident about growth and 74% plan to expand in the coming year, according to a recent Goldman Sachs survey.

As small business owners, we deeply appreciate Congress’s bipartisan efforts to reopen the government and provide the stability businesses need to thrive. Continued collaboration between lawmakers and small business owners is essential to building a strong economy for everyone.

Sydney Rieckhoff

Owner, Almost Famous Popcorn

Cedar Rapids