Boise, ID – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) delivered keynote remarks to Idaho small business owners at the Small Business Administration (SBA)/Amazon “Grow Your Sales with E-Commerce” seminar in Boise. The educational event was designed to help small businesses expand their reach into the national and global economies. Noting that small business optimism has reached a record-breaking high according to the National Federation of Independent Business' August report, and unemployment at an unprecedented low, Senator Risch expressed that there has never been a better time for small business owners in Idaho to grow beyond the Gem State’s borders. Senator Risch, who chairs the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, also discussed the current regulatory climate for entrepreneurs and highlighted how Congress is working to help bolster the 30 million small businesses across our nation.

“We know that small businesses are vital to Idaho’s economy, employing nearly 305,000 people across our state,” said Senator Risch. “Incredibly, 99.2 percent of Idaho businesses are small businesses, and there are more that start up each and every day. It is because small businesses are so important to our local, state, and national economies that Washington needs to continue to do all we can for businesses to start, endure, and grow.” 

Risch continued: “Small business optimism has repeatedly hit record high levels in the past twenty months, due in large part to Congress and the Administration working hand-in-hand to undo the regulatory burden that has been hampering small business growth for years, paired with historic tax cuts. The future is indeed very bright for those of you here today.”

At least 75 small business owners attended the “Grow Your Sales with E-Commerce” seminar. Through a series of speakers and panels including experts from Amazon and the Idaho Small Business Development Center, representatives from the SBA, and local small business owners who have found success expanding their business online, today’s event provided small businesses with the tools, tips and information they need to be successful selling their goods and services online.