We don’t often hear about it on cable news, but we have a lot to be proud of in our country right now. In June, our economy added 224,000 jobs, and in July, we added 164,000. The National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) this month released a survey indicating that optimism among small business owners is strengthening, and I saw this trend firsthand during my time on the road in the Second District last week.
During my recent district travel, I had the opportunity to participate in two NFIB roundtables, one in Headland and the other in Opp, where I heard directly from farmers, small business owners, and community leaders about what they’re experiencing on the ground. While the energy is largely positive, one major challenge they face is finding qualified workers to fill the jobs they’re creating.
In Alabama, we are fortunate to have a strong, vibrant community college system that offers countless educational and professional opportunities to students in our communities, ultimately creating the workforce that our small businesses rely on. In Congress, I have been a vocal advocate for properly supporting and funding our two-year schools, and I will continue to fight for their interests. We must always ensure that our community colleges have the tools they need to train today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.
Of course, our state has many large manufacturers and chain stores that make significant contributions to our economy, and we should always be thankful for that. However, it’s the local small businesses that are the heartbeat of our cities and towns, passed down through generations, defining the culture of our communities. As the representative for countless small businesses here in the Second District, I consider it a tremendous responsibility to fight for their well-being by advancing policies that foster economic growth. I remain committed to continuing this important work on their behalf.
I cannot express enough how beneficial it is for me to hear directly from the people I represent, and I greatly appreciate all the hardworking people who took time out of their busy schedules to share their views with me this month.
The bottom line is that Americans are confident in our economy, and rightfully so. I will continue to work alongside my colleagues in Congress and the administration to hopefully deliver more policies that unleash our economy and create jobs here in our country.
Martha Roby represents Alabama’s Second Congressional District. She lives in Montgomery, Alabama, with her husband Riley and their two children.
