Elect Ron Kind for Congress - Wisconsin Third Congressional District

Stimulus Money Pays for Loans to Help Small Businesses

Reported by Cynthia Schweigert

Take a walk through downtown La Crosse and you'll see small businesses lining the streets. The Chamber of Commerce estimates 95 % of businesses in the area are locally owned.

Allison Krzych is Co-owner of Kick, a shoe store downtown. She says local businesses are important to the area. "It is the lifeblood of the community and it's your neighbors and your friends that are running these businesses," said Krzych. 

Federal stimulus money is providing interest free loans up to $35,000 for small businesses. Congressman Ron Kind joined local business developers at UW-La Crosse to help people understand the loans.  "Because of tightening credit requirements, they're having a hard time maintaining lines of credit which they need to make payroll, buy inventory, basically be in business," said Kind. 

But Former State Majority Leader and Republican Mike Huebsch says government is what hurt small business in the first place. "They raise taxes enormously, then come back and have the audacity to say, we're going to give a little back to see if you can get back on your feet, after we've taken so much from you," said Huebsch.

While most Republicans and Democrats don't agree on how to support locally owned businesses, Krzych reminds us that business doesn't stop when times get tough. "Being a small business owner, you work hard, regardless of a recession," said Krzych.