Rebuilding American Manufacturing in Central Pennsylvania

Last night I had the honor of attending President Obama’s State of the Union Address as a member of his cabinet. In the speech, the President laid out his vision for an economy that’s built to last.  It’s an economy based on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.  I had the chance see one of those pillars in action today.Today I visited Always Bagels in Lebanon, Penn.  Always Bagels is exactly the kind of manufacturing facility President Obama was talking about in his State of the Union.  This is a business that’s growing, creating jobs, and driving our economy forward.  Always Bagels started as a retail bakery 20 years ago.  Now they are a major manufacturer with two plants.  Always Bagels currently produces over 400,000 bagels a day.  So when they say “Always Bagels”, they mean it!Always Bagels has already been helped by this administration.  Two years ago, the firm got an SBA Recovery Act 504 loan to buy their second plant.  With the new plant, company president Tony Pariti, was hoping create 80 new jobs within three years—but Always Bagels has been so successful that they now employ over 100 people.Thanks to policies like the Recovery Act, American manufacturing is creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s.  Last night the President proposed new tools to build on this success and make sure that small manufacturers like Always Bagels continue to have the wind at their backs.He called for lowering the tax rate for companies that manufacture and create jobs in the United States.  He also proposed reducing regulations that get in the way of entrepreneurs who want to start and grow a business.  And he called on Congress to continue the payroll tax cut which gives millions of Americans a little extra money to spend at local small businesses.These tools will mean more support for small manufacturers like Always Bagels, more good jobs and more products stamped “Made in America.”  We need to move forward and rebuild the economy.  We need to make sure that small businesses have the tools they need to grow and create jobs.  We need an economy built to last.

About the Author

Karen Gordon Mills is the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA helps both Main Street and high-growth small businesses get access to capital, counseling, federal contracts, disaster assistance and more.