State Representative Terry Morrow, seeking to work with local small business owners on the challenges and opportunities they face, invites local businesses to participate in a new survey. The newly created bipartisan Small Business Caucus will use the information to make Minnesota a better, more competitive place to do business.

Here in my own district, I hear daily from local business owners about ways to create the conditions for small business success. I am excited that now we have a way to collect these ideas from throughout Minnesota and act on them at the capitol.

The online small business survey asks a range of questions, including requesting that businesses share ideas on the ways in which the state can be helpful and how government regulation affects businesses. The survey can be found on the Minnesota House of Representatives website at

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/smallbusinesssuggestions.asp

We received many, many ideas from the public on how Minnesota could weather the global economic crisis. When I read these suggestions, I became convinced that Minnesotans have valuable insights on a variety of issues. I am encouraged that hearing from Minnesota’s small business owners will bring forward practical, relevant ideas.

In addition to the online survey, Representative Morrow has invited local business groups in his district to meet with him in ‘small business listening sessions.’ Representative Morrow has invited these groups to tell him about state regulations that potentially inhibit business development and operation.

In the winter and spring of 2009, I worked with local school districts and governmental units, asking them to let me know about mandates that negatively affected them. This successful process–now a regular part of my work with schools, cities, and counties—will be expanded to businesses in Nicollet and Sibley Counties.