The success of the locally owned Dakota Harvest Bakers in downtown Grand Forks is an example of "the best story of America," Democratic U.S. House candidate Pam Gulleson said Thursday during a campaign tour across North Dakota.
She told a crowd of about 15 that the country's small business owners who have invested in their communities, including the bakery's co-owners, George Kelley and Paul Holje, have created jobs and built up the local economy.
"And that's what we need to get back to again today," Gulleson said as she unveiled her plan to create a sustainable business environment, foster entrepreneurship and encourage domestic manufacturing to create jobs and boost the economy.
Kelley agreed, and said more work is needed to change the nation's business climate.
"We're in a situation where companies are being rewarded for taking their jobs overseas," he said. "We need to innovate here at home, we need to build here at home, and North Dakota should be in the leadership on this."
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The family farmer and former state representative launched her "Building the Future" tour Thursday. She stopped in Fargo and Mayville before visiting Grand Forks. She will be in Park River, Lakota, Devils Lake, Spirit Lake and Rugby today, and she plans to visit Minot, Burlington and Berthold on Friday.
Gulleson, 54, is running for the state's lone U.S. House seat, which is open this year because Republican Rep. Rick Berg is running for the U.S. Senate.
Six candidates are seeking the GOP nomination for the office, including Kevin Cramer, Shane Goettle, Bette Grande, DuWayne Hendrickson, Brian Kalk and Kim Koppelman.
Main Street is key
Gulleson told the crowd at Dakota Harvest that people often say small businesses are the job creators in America. But she said the truth is "really more specific" than that, and instead most job creation comes from startup companies that grow quickly.
"It's pretty clear to me that the road to recovery needs to run through our Main Streets, our small businesses and its manufacturing plants," she said.
Her plan to revitalize the economy is a series of comprehensive "key steps" that Congress should take to get the country back on track, she said.
Lawmakers need to support immediate tax reforms that would end loopholes that encourage companies to move manufacturing jobs out of the country, she said.
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Another top priority is boosting the federal commitment to research and development, an effort that she said has had a big impact in eastern North Dakota through the Red River Valley Research Corridor.
The corrdior was a key initiative of her former boss, former Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan.
"The result has meant hundreds of jobs for North Dakota families," she said. "Unfortunately, today the U.S. has fallen to 17th in the world in the level of federal research and development funding. This simply will not work if we want to stay competitive globally."
Other parts of the plan include developing a comprehensive national energy policy that supports investment in new technologies and ensuring the nation has a strong and skilled workforce by advancing science and technology innovation in schools and universities.
"I know it won't be easy, but I'm really committed to working across the aisle on policies that allow small business owners, innovators and workers to build a much better future for America," she said.
Reach Johnson at (701) 780-1105; (800) 477-6572, ext. 105; or send email to rjohnson@gfherald.com .
