Golden Meets Small Business Owners for Roundtable in Kennebec Valley

AUGUSTA — Ahead of the first meeting of the House Small Business Committee for the 118th Congress, Representative Jared Golden (ME-02) joined Maine Chamber of Commerce President Dana Connors, local small business owners, and members of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce in Augusta  for a roundtable discussion. Augusta was redistricted into Maine’s Second Congressional District for the 118th Congress. The group discussed the business landscape of the region, as well as challenges facing small businesses and opportunities for growth. 

“I’m pleased about the recent addition of the Mainers in Augusta to our District and appreciated the opportunity to sit down with some of the business leaders driving the city’s economy,” said Congressman Golden. “Meetings like these offer a crucial seat at the table for the business owners who are doing the hard work of growing their communities.   Thank you to those who took their time to share with me the challenges their business is facing and identify opportunities where my office can be helpful.”

Golden was hosted by Katie Doherty, the President of the Kennebec Valley Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Kennebec Valley Chamber and Augusta Downtown Alliance Boards participated in the roundtable with Golden to discuss the needs and interests of local healthcare professionals, energy providers, banking and lending institutions, hospitality industry members and educators.

As a member of the House Small Business Committee Golden has been a champion of small business owners and entrepreneurs. Last fall, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce awarded Golden the Advocate for American Business award for his bipartisan work on behalf of Maine small businesses. During the 117th Congress, Golden chaired the Underserved, Agricultural, and Rural Business Development Subcommittee, and he used that role to consistently advocate for resources and support for small businesses. In April 2022, the House of Representatives passed Golden’s bipartisan legislation to help more small businesses across the country launch, grow, and retain workers through the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) program. 

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