Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) has been recognized as a “Hero of Main Street” by the National Retail Foundation (NRF) for his support of policies important to millions of small businesses in retail. More than 98 percent of all retail companies employ fewer than 50 people. Latta has a 100% record on the NRF scorecard including voting to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which has resulted in small business confidence reaching all-time highs. In addition, he supported the Small Business Health Fairness Act to allow small businesses to band together to purchase health insurance plans for their employees.
“I’m honored to receive this award that recognizes my strong support for retailers on Main Street,” said Latta. “The retail industry is uniquely made up of small businesses that provide employment for tens of millions of Americans. Supporting policies that allow these businesses to grow means more jobs and higher wages for workers. We’re seeing small business confidence at an all-time high, GDP growth at 4.2% last quarter, and unemployment matching the lowest rate in nearly 50 years because of these pro-growth policies.”
“Retailers and consumers are feeling good about the state of the U.S. economy, and a big part of that is the result of lawmakers who have made economic growth and job creation a top priority,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “As a Hero of Main Street, Congressman Bob Latta truly understands that the decisions made in Washington have a real impact on local businesses and communities across the country.”
According to the NRF, the organization is the world’s largest retail trade association. Based in Washington, D.C., NRF represents discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants, and internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy.
