Big dominates the headlines these days — big as in bad economic news, or companies and large numbers of employees being impacted by the economy. Today, however, was a time to focus on small businesses with a much more positive story to tell. The Indiana Chamber’s Small Business Awards luncheon recognizes small companies making a difference and those advocating on their behalf.

AIT Laboratories of Indianapolis was recognized as the 2009 Small Business of the Year. The Chamber’s BizVoice magazine recently profiled the fast-growing health care testing and research firm. The finalists and semifinalists were a statewide collection of companies making a difference for their employees and in their communities.

Small Business Champions are legislators who have worked to help improve the business climate for these and other organizations. Honored were senators Connie Lawson (R-Danville) and Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington), and representatives Jeb Bardon (D-Indianapolis), Richard Dodge (R-Pleasant Lake) and Sean Eberhart (R-Shelbyville).

Congratulations to the winners and all recognized on this day to reward small business success. Read all about it.

The Chamber’s Cameron Carter focuses his efforts on federal advocacy, as well as economic development and small business issues at the state level. He offered the following on the Chamber’s weekly radio appearance (9-9:30 on Wednesdays) on WXNT’s (1430 in Indianapolis) Abdul in the Morning program.

• Federal stimulus: "It remains to be seen what it will do for business." Carter explains that the majority of the estimated $4.3 billion coming our way is tied to Medicaid, education and other dedicated purposes with approximately $200 million to be used at the discretion of state officials. He reiterates that deeper tax cuts and infrastructure investments would, in the Chamber’s view, have been more effective in providing immediate relief.
• Local government reform: Carter compares today’s townships to the human appendix — "you don’t need it in this day and age." Asked about "selling" an issue that is not glamorous in nature, Carter offers that if "families don’t have money to spend, they don’t spend it." In addition providing more effective services, the Kernan-Shepard reforms are "about putting our finances in better order and making people more accountable."
• Unemploment insurance trust fund: There are no easy answers to this growing problem, one the Chamber had identified more than a year ago. Eligibiliy loopholes must be addressed, along with benefit levels that are above the national average, with ultimately increased investment by employers (and potentially employees) helping make the system sustainable moving forward.

The Indiana Chamber is in business to help create a stronger state business climate. Eight issue experts work each day, and many nights, toward that goal during the General Assembly session.

They, and all of us, need your help. Legislators want to hear from you. If local government reform, for example, is not enacted, one reason given will be that more opponents than supporters spoke up. That should not be the case.

It’s easy. The Indiana Prosperity Project web site has quick updates on critical issues and ways for you to contact your legislators. New topics are featured each week. Bookmark the page and take a few minutes to be involved.

We will thank you in advance.

The soon-to-pass stimulus bill has, as expected, created a litany of policy debates among supporters and detractors. And while many free-marketers have criticized the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, one wonders if American businesses should seriously expect much benefit from it. CNN.com posted an article about the impact on small businesses today that is worth mentioning:

The bill authorizes the Small Business Administration to temporarily eliminate or reduce fees for participation in its flagship loan-guarantee programs, which insure banks against default by small business borrowers. The stimulus bill also increases to 90% the percentage of qualifying loans that the SBA can guarantee.

For companies in need of quick relief, the bill offers a "small business stabilization financing," which gives them money to pay off existing loans. Under the program, the SBA can issue or back loans of up to $35,000; businesses can then use the money to make up to six months of payments on previous loans. Interest on stabilization loans will be fully subsidized, and the loans won’t have any payments due for the first year. Borrowers must repay them within five years.

The SBA has a limited window of time and cash to fund these emergency measures. Congress allocated $630 million to fund loan subsidies and modifications, and authorized them to continue through September 2010. If the cash starts to run out, borrowers will have priority over lenders – and small banks will have priority over larger ones – for receiving fee discounts and waivers.

Other measures designed to help small business include (see the article for details):

• Unfreezing the loan market
• Loss accounting
• Equipment expensing
• Hiring incentives
• Capital gains tax breaks for those who invest in small businesses

Your thoughts? Will this actually help small businesses? Or is it just an example of bureaucracy being bureaucracy?

Jay C Food Stores have been serving southern Indiana for many years. In that time, the stores have seen many changes. However, the company’s dedication to serving Seymour and the surrounding community remains unwavered by the winds of time — and the pains of recession. Jay C’s story is one of adaptation, evolution, and ultimately success. Here are some key points of progress, as told by the company:

• It all began in 1863. John C. Groub, a young Swiss immigrant, made his way to Seymour, Indiana. He sold matches to pay his way from Louisville, Kentucky to Rockford, Indiana.
• In 1863, John C. Groub opened his first store in a building on South Chestnut Street. The front portion was a grocery store; the back was used for living quarters. 
• The business grew and Mr. Groub secured a downtown location on West Second Street in 1871.
• Deliveries by truck started about 1919, and satellite warehouses were established in Mitchell and Connersville.
• As the number of stores increased, so did the need for more warehouse space, and in 1938 a new two-story warehouse, one-half block in size, was built at the south end of Ewing Street.
• In the late 1950s, the Jay C leadership made a commitment to teamwork when it made the promise, “As the Company Progresses, So Shall Its People.” At the same time, a cash profit sharing plan was inaugurated. As a result of this team effort, profit sharing has been paid every year since its inception.
• A new name, and a new kind of store operation became a part of the company during the 1980s-90s.  Four Foods Plus Stores were opened in Bedford, Madison, Columbus, and Seymour.  The concept of these stores involved giving customers a role in creating savings for themselves by bagging their own groceries and taking them to the car. 
• By the end of the 1990s, Jay C consisted of 25 Jay C Stores, 4 Foods Plus Stores, and 2 Ruler Discount Foods Stores.
• In August,1999 the John C. Groub Company merged with the Kroger Company, the largest grocery retailer in the United States.
• The company has prospered as an independent division of the Kroger Company, retaining its name, people, traditions, values, leadership, and products.

Congrats to Jay C, an Indiana Chamber member, for so many years of success — and thanks for showing other Indiana businesses what can be accomplished with determination and forward thinking.

After spending about 90 minutes with Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett, I think it’s fair to call him a "gunslinger." He admits that he will likely get himself in trouble at times with what he says. But as long as he feels he’s speaking the truth about improving the state’s subpar K-12 performance, so be it.

Bennett brings an energy that was definitely lacking. You can read a Q&A in the next BizVoice magazine, available online February 27 and in the mail to 15,000 print subscribers the same day. One subject not included in that story was full-day kindergarten.

He says although "the governor and I feel very strongly the need to finish the job (fully funding the program), we can’t write a check we can’t cash." Regarding the effectiveness of such programs thus far, Bennett notes, "As school corporations, we’ve not been ahead of the curve on articulating a curriculum based on full-day kindergarten. We made the shift from half day to full day, but did we articulate our curriculum for first, second and third grades based on full-day kindergarten? In many cases, I’m afraid we didn’t."

What do others say? From our roundtable discussion in the same issue on a variety of K-12 issues, Evansville superintendent Vince Bertram claims, "I think we’re going to see a major culture shift in the Department of Education from a strictly compliant culture to one of service and support for schools. So, if we call the Department of Education, it’s not that the answer is, ‘No, we can’t do this,’ it’s ‘Let’s find a way to get this,’ and that’s going to be very helpful for schools."

David Shane, a member of the State Board of Education, adds that deregulation will be a major theme for both Bennett and the board. Like Bertram, he calls it a transition from a "controlling environment to a supporting environment."

Read the latest from the DOE and check out the BizVoice stories at the end of the month.

Are you tired of the Chamber and our allies campaigning for local government reform? Sorry, but not too much. If there’s an idea worth working for — and this one is very high on that list — we’re not going to give up. I’d bet that one day, when we’re realizing the efficiencies that will come when townships are gone and counties are reorganized in a common sense manner, you’ll even say thanks — or at least think it.

On the township front, Indianapolis Star editor Dennis Ryerson joins the chorus. He opens his Sunday column with two questions: Who is your township trustee? What does that trustee do? Excellent questions and good points to follow.