U.S. Senator Joni Ernst attended a hearing yesterday (Wednesday) that addressed the challenges and opportunities of running a small business in rural America. As a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Ernst relayed what she has been hearing from rural business owners during her 99-county Iowa tours. She questioned Co-founder and Senior Director for Policy and Strategy at Economic Innovation Group, John Lettieri, on how to address workforce challenges experienced by Iowa employers. Lettieri said their needs to be an emphasis on cooperation between the local government, the private sector and educational institutions. These partnerships, he says, will ensure that the skills taught locally will match with the job opportunities available in our communities. Ernst also stressed the importance of reliable internet access for rural communities and their small businesses as well as noting that this issue must be addressed in any potential infrastructure package.
