THE RAATZ ROUNDUP
Submitted for use on Sept. 3, 2025
Word Count: 281
Indiana is a great state to start your own business and chase your dreams. As a small-business owner myself, I know how important small businesses are to our state’s economy and the importance of an environment that supports them.
In Indiana, small businesses make up 99.4% of all businesses in the state. Not only that, but nearly 44% of Hoosiers are employed by a small business and nearly 84% of Indiana's exporters are small companies. It is very clear that small businesses are important to our state economically, and we must take steps to ensure we continue to foster a sound environment for entrepreneurs.
That is why I authored Senate Enrolled Act 516 this year to continue to allow our small businesses to grow and develop.
SEA 516 established the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation to help main street businesses start, grow and scale their businesses to grow with Indiana's economy. The Office will oversee funding programs for small businesses, strengthen policies supporting entrepreneurship and develop programs to support youth entrepreneurship. The Office will also support rural and underrepresented communities.
The law also aims to create more transparency in the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which will help put small businesses on equal footing with larger companies.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. It is important to support them and provide them with the resources they need, because when they do well, our state does well.
Constituents can reach out to me with any questions or concerns they may have by filling out a "Contact Me" form on the IndianaSenateRepublicans.com/Raatz website or by calling my office at 800-382-9467.
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
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