10.11.11

Durbin: Jobs Act Will Help Illinois Small Businesses

Uses 155 year old Peoria, Illinois company as example of how Congress can encourage job creation and help strengthen small businesses

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) took to the floor of the Senate to encourage the passage of President Obama’s American Jobs Act which is scheduled for a vote in the Senate later today.  Durbin also used the experience of Peoria-based A. Lucas and Sons to illustrate how Congress can help small businesses better leverage resources, strengthen their outlook and create jobs.

 

“As I traveled up and down my State of Illinois, I visited some days with those who are unemployed, desperately trying to find jobs, and other days with businesses – such as A. Lucas & Sons Steel in Peoria – which are doing well. I asked them the key to their success. They said they have been lucky to have good products and great workers and great infrastructure,” said Durbin. 

 

“Part of President Obama's jobs package is to put Americans back to work rebuilding basic infrastructure that businesses, large and small, in Illinois need to move their goods back and forth to market.  Historically we have agreed on a bipartisan basis when it comes to infrastructure.  We should agree again and that is part of the President's jobs bill.”

 

Durbin went on to discuss the Recovery Act grant that A. Lucas and Sons secured in 2010 which allowed them to transition from the oldest operating steel fabricator in the United States to a leading green manufacturer prepared for the future. 

 

“Thank goodness, government was there for that company, a private company, paying a living wage with decent benefits, that has been around for a century and a half and is prospering because they are making quality products out of American steel with equipment they bought through President Obama's stimulus package,” Durbin explained.

 

A. Lucas and Sons now produce products 3 times faster than they did before, making production more efficient and driving additional business and demand.  In the next twelve months, this woman-owned American steel company plans to grow their workforce by nearly 50% to keep up with their growing business.