“What I wanted from counties is to get a feel for the different needs and problems facing small business owners,” said Rep. Bryon Short, D-Highland Woods, who addressed about 100 business leaders Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Sponsored by the Small Business Caucus, the Georgetown meeting was led by Bryon Short and Rep. Danny Short, R-Seaford.

Earlier this year, Byron Short and Danny Short received small business advocacy awards from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Delaware District Office. Danny has an insurance company in Seaford and Bryon is principal of a real estate firm near Wilmington.
“It’s positive to have representatives who are small business owners,” said district office director Jayne Armstrong.

Today, about 30 percent of Delaware representatives are small business owners, said Danny Short.

Gov. Jack Markell has said encouraging small business development in Delaware is one of his priorities, and the Small Business Caucus is designed to carry out some of the governor’s initiatives.

Still, Danny Short said, “It’s a shame the state is the largest employer, and I’d like to change that.”

The caucus seeks to change regulatory issues and policies through legislation – processes that are counterproductive to small businesses.

“One of my goals going into spring is to pick a regular time to have the Small Business Caucus meet in Legislative Hall,” said Bryon Short. His long-term goal takes Delaware’s small size into account. He said he is aiming to quickly turn ideas into products and services.

Town hall-style meetings were held in New Castle and Kent counties, but in Sussex, the turnout was the highest, said Bryon Short.

“I think this county has been hit harder than the others,” said Danny Short said.

“Never is it ever more evident that small businesses will pull us out of the recession,” said newly elected Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, who is also executive vice president of the Sussex County Association of Realtors.

Sen. Gary Simpson, R-Milford, said, in the 21-member Senate, only two or three lawmakers are small business owners. He was invited to the meeting to increase representation in the upper chamber.

Rep. Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, who owns eight retail stores, said the reason he ran for office was to give businesses a voice in the General Assembly.

Don Hollenbeck, owner of plastics-maker Craig Technologies in Seaford, said his biggest challenge is finding educated local employees.

“I’m trying to find workers with a reasonable education, who can pass a sixth-grade math test. I need people who can read and write,” he said. Top managers are recruited from out of state, he said.

Sher Valenzuela of First State Manufacturing in Milford said, “In Delaware, we’re good at talking, but not good at doing.”

She said she is frustrated that the state does not have a small business database.

Bryon said the caucus formed last spring and is in the process of making a small business email list.

Matt Haley, owner of SoDel Concepts, which operates several popular local restaurants, said he employs 600 people, who he says are well educated.

He said he would like to see a program for resort area-businesses that gives businesses credits for keeping employees working year-round.

Other small business concerns include steep health insurance costs and workers’ compensation rates and lengthy permitting processes.

Bryon Short said when the Legislature reconvenes in January, he plans to introduce the regulatory fairness act, a measure that would require impact studies to be done before passing laws that might hurt businesses.

“We’re trying to break ground that hasn’t occurred before,” Danny Short said.