KIRKSVILLE, MO. -- Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel stopped in Kirksville Thursday morning to have a closed session roundtable discussion with several business owners.
He promoted his office's small business low-interest loan program and listened to the concerns of the entrepreneurs.
Many of them addressed the problems they were running into while trying to keep their businesses open, including regulatory issues, worker's comp, and difficulties hiring more employees.
"The biggest thing that I can see is the red tape needs to be shortened for a new business owner at all different levels," said Jay Findling, the owner and operator of Steve's Garden Deli.
"The thing that I want to stress is that we're working hard to provide certainty and clarity and confidence in Missouri for the long term," said Zweifel. "That's why we have a S & P AAA credit rating. That's why we're here on the ground helping small businesses with loans to expand and grow and hire employees. We're doing that work every single day."
According to the state treasurer, the meeting was closed to the media and the public because he wanted to have a frank conversation with local business owners. Similar roundtable discussions were held in Blue Springs, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, and St.Joseph.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKTVO