Small business optimism is up according to the National Federation of Independent Business.   NFIB State Director Dawn Starns says business owners in Louisiana are feeling better now that the 2019 legislative session is in the rearview mirror.

“They are breathing a sigh of relief now that the session is over.  The legislature is out of session so they can’t do any damage anymore,” said Starns.

Starns says in addition to the wrap up of the legislative session, the new tax code on the national level is contributing to the rise.

“A small business owner has no finally filed their taxes under the new regimes so they’ve seen the true benefit.  They are seeing money and they are actually getting to put that money back into their business,” said Starns.

Starns says that with the growth in optimism, comes bigger hiring numbers as well as pay increases for those on the payroll of small businesses.

“They are being able to turn the money that they putting back into their business back into their employees and that’s what small business owners do.  They’re the job creators of our country, they are the job creators of our state,” said Starns.

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