FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 10, 2022
Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized The Foxhole of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:
Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize The Foxhole of Smiths Grove, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
Take a look at any small town American Main Street and you will likely see a common trend: small businesses are a bastion of creativity. All around the country, entrepreneurs break out into new ventures based on an idea that is uniquely theirs, and they work hard to support the enterprise that is their dream. Such is the story of Kellie B. Long and her store, The Foxhole. Founded in 2017, Kellie set out to open a store that offered a wide variety of items, from clothes and jewelry, to furnishings and tableware. In the years since her opening, the store has grown in its product variety, staff capacity, and customer reach. Though The Foxhole is well-loved by the residents of Smiths Grove, customers travel from all across Kentucky to peruse items that could only be found at this unique shop.
When customers walk in the door, they are surrounded by Kellie’s unique vision for what defines beauty and creativity. This entrepreneur does not rely on products that are freshly made or unused, she curates a wide array of distinctive items that cannot be found in the typical clothes or home-goods store. Moreover, Kellie appreciates the quality of a product that has been loved by a previous owner, and she takes pride in her keen eye for identifying items that deserve to be loved again. Her store offers products that are notably vintage, along with lightly-used items, as well as the occasional new and custom-made products. Despite the fact that her store is filled with products that are hard to find and potentially irreplaceable, Kellie is not shy or finnicky about welcoming all clientele, even making the store dog-friendly for those who cannot part with their pups. Furthermore, Kellie participates in ‘Second-Saturdays,’ which is a communal outdoor shopping experience for the residents of Smiths Grove. Second-Saturdays bring out food trucks, vendors, and entertainment for locals to shop, eat, and enjoy with their neighbors and friends.
Her participation in Second-Saturdays is not the only way Kellie stays involved in the community. Outside of her regular commercial activities, The Foxhole offers the occasional Bible study for residents of Smiths Grove to gather and share in their religion and faith. And though her Bible study is not a routine part of The Foxhole’s activities, Kellie makes sure to incorporate her giving spirit into the running of her business. Every year as Americans observe Memorial Day, Kellie opens up her business to a greater cause, by donating ten percent of her Memorial Day weekend sales to the Wounded Warriors project. Kellie understands that we all have a veteran in our life, and she does her part in giving back to the community that gave their all.
In addition to their annual sales donations to charity, Kellie is sensitive to whatever needs may arise from her Kentucky neighbors. After devastating tornados struck Western Kentucky in late 2021, Kelly donated twenty one percent of all of The Foxholes’ sales recorded in the last two weeks of December to the Bowling Green Tornado relief fund. Kellie ensures that The Foxhole is a place where customers can find beautiful and unique items, while promoting community involvement and goodwill to all who dawn her storefront.
I want to congratulate this upstanding entrepreneur for her dedication to her community and for her drive to bring creativity and beauty to her corner of Kentucky. Congratulations to Kellie Long and the entire team at The Foxhole. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Kentucky.
As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.
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