Chellie’s Record on Small Business in Maine

Share Chellie's record on small business development with your friends

Chellie has a long history of small business development that includes both owning her own small businesses and advocating for common sense solutions to strengthen small businesses in Maine. During her time in the Maine State Senate, she was co-chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council and proposed a bond issue to provide funds to small businesses. As a Member of Congress, she has supported legislation to provide tax incentives for small business job creation, voted to exempt small businesses from capital gains taxes and voted to authorize $29 billion for small business loans.

Chellie is a small business owner
Before she was elected to the Maine State Senate, Chellie, like a lot of Mainers, was an entrepreneur. She operated a small farm in Morrill, Maine from 1973-1976 and another small farm on North Haven, Maine from 1977-1980. From 1981 to 1993 she owned Northern Island Yarn, which later became North Island Designs. During her time with North Island Designs, she authored and produced 5 knitting books from writing essays to coordinating the photography, design and production.

In 2004, while also President and CEO of Common Cause, Chellie collaborated with several local partners to purchase and renovate the former “Nebo Lodge” located near her home on North Haven. Nebo Lodge reopened its doors in 2006 with 8 rooms and a now-popular restaurant. Chellie and her family operate the Inn, with her eldest daughter Hannah serving as the manager.

Chellie has a strong record on issues that relate to small business development
When she arrived at the Legislature in 1992, she already had a keen understanding of business based on her own experiences. Her colleagues appointed her Senate Chair of the joint Housing and Economic Development Committee and Co-chair of the Maine Economic Growth Council in 1993. (1)

While a State Senator in Augusta, Chellie co-sponsored legislation to provide nearly $6 million to increase tourism marketing support and develop a more cohesive and engaged tourism industry to generate additional returns from expenditures of state funds. (2) She also worked to fund programs and activities designed to provide a long-term enhancement of the state’s science and technology infrastructure. (3) Chellie also supported reviewing government regulation of small businesses and worked to establish a special commission to study the effects of government regulation and health insurance costs on small businesses in Maine. (4)

In Congress in 2009, Chellie voted to authorize $29 billion for small business loans and led the fight for the Small Business Financing and Investment Act--a bill that will help create jobs by making more tools and investment financing and capital available to small businesses (5), as well as a Republican motion to study whether or not SBA loans fail to provide adequate business capital to offset increases in taxes, health care and energy costs. (6)
 
“This is a bill that will support small businesses when they need it most by helping them access the investments they need to survive, to grow, to expand, and to create the jobs that will drive our economic recovery,” Chellie said in her testimony on the House floor.

___________________

[1] Republican Journal, 1/7/93 and (Bangor  Daily News, 12/20/93

[2] LD 1478, Emergency Enactment (Voice Vote), 7/1/93.  Bill provided nearly $6 million to increase to tourism marketing support and develop a more cohesive and engaged tourism industry to generate additional returns from expenditures of state funds.  It was signed into law by the Governor.  PINGREE COSPONSORED THE BILL.

[3] LD 1467, 1993.  The legislation sought to appropriate funds to programs and activities designed to provide a long-term enhancement of the state’s science and technology infrastructure.  It was killed in the Senate.  PINGREE SPONSORED THE BILL.

[4] LD 1905, Final Passage, Passed 26-0, 6/20/97.  The bill established a special commission to study the effects of government regulation and health insurance costs on small business in Maine.  It was signed into law by the Governor.  PINGREE VOTED FOR THE BILL.

[5] H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009 passed by a vote of 389-32.  According to Congressional Quarterly, the legislation “would reauthorize and modify Small Business Administration (SBA) loan programs.  It would authorize $20 billion in fiscal 2010 and 2011 for SBA 7(a) loans, and $9 billion in fiscal 2010 and $10 billion in fiscal 2011 for loans to small businesses working to address community development goals.  It would extend some stimulus programs to allow the SBA to increase loan limits and authorize additional loans to renewable-energy industries and businesses in low-income communities and rural areas.  It would provide loan guarantees to healthcare professionals purchasing health information technology.” [H.R. 3854, Vote #830, 10/29/09; CQ Floor Votes, House Roll Call Vote 830, 10/29/09]

[6] The motion amended the Small Business Financing and Investment Act to require “the Small Business Administration to study if agency loans fail to provide adequate capital for businesses to offset increases in income taxes, health care expenses, energy costs and other provisions.”  The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 272-149. [H.R. 3854, Vote #829, 10/29/09; CQ Floor Votes, House Roll Call Vote 829, 10/29/09]