Rep. Tim Ryan helped create a House caucus to promote businesses with less than 10 employees

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan and three other House members have created a bipartisan caucus to promote and assist businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

The Congressional Microbusiness Caucus will help define and elevate the narrative of microbusinesses in Congress and provide a forum for microbusiness owners to have constructive conversations about obstacles and regulatory barriers preventing entrepreneurs from starting and scaling their business in this country, said Ryan, of Howland, D-13th.

There are 3.7 million microbusinesses in the United States, providing 10.8 percent of private-sector jobs, Ryan said.

“Technological and entrepreneurial innovation is accelerating at an unbelievable rate, and even though there are immense challenges ahead of us to ensure that our country works in a way that benefits everyone, this is an exciting time to be a participant in the American economy,” he said. “The very nature of work is changing, and microbusinesses are a driving force behind that. Congress must stand ready to rapidly respond to the needs of workers and employees of microbusinesses. Our economy will be stronger for it.”

The other founding members of the caucus are U.S. Reps. Pat Tiberi, a Republican from the Columbus area; Anna Eshoo, a California Democrat; and Barbara Comstock, a Virginia Republican.