North Carolina is home to more than 163,600 small businesses that employ 1.6 million people, about half of the state’s private workforce. To say that these businesses are a vital component of our national economy would be an understatement.

We must ensure that we support these industries and small businesses that drive our economy and create jobs in our local communities. Right now, we need real solutions to help create jobs, build a healthy economy and provide more opportunity in the workplace.

Unfortunately, it seems like every time we turn around, Washington is creating more rules for compliance, more paperwork and more red tape. The problem is federal agencies are run by folks who don’t understand how our local businesses operate. These bureaucrats consistently make it harder for businesses to grow and hire.

I’m determined to reverse this course and get the federal government out of the way to make sure our small businesses can thrive and supply good jobs to hardworking people.

As your representative, I remain committed to working with both Republicans and Democrats to cultivate an environment where small businesses can succeed and folks can get the jobs they deserve. You can learn more about my jobs plan at Hudson.House.Gov/JOBS.

In an effort to give you the opportunity to join the conversation and meet with federal government officials to discuss these policies that affect our business community on a daily basis, I invite you to attend the 2015 North Carolina Business and Economic Development Summit on Sept. 8 and 9 in Washington, D.C.

This annual two-day event hosted by the North Carolina delegation provides business leaders from across the state the opportunity to network, collaborate and discuss shared legislative and business concerns. Last year, nearly 300 business leaders attended the summit to discuss ways to spur economic growth and bring jobs home to North Carolina.

Attendees from our district included representatives from multiple chambers of commerce and leaders from the transportation, manufacturing, health care, education, hospitality, motion picture, education, energy and financial industries. On top of the invaluable collaboration, attendees heard from special guests, including business leaders from North Carolina and officials from the administration and Capitol Hill, as well as political commentators.

As your representative, I have made it a top priority to meet with businesses and industry leaders in our community to understand the challenges we face when it comes to economic growth and job creation. To me, the most valuable part of the summit is hearing firsthand from attendees about what I can do to support our workers and job creators at home.

I look forward to continuing this important conversation with folks from our district this year at the North Carolina Business and Economic Development Summit. Please join me and my colleagues, U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield, Renee Ellmers, Walter Jones, David Price, Virginia Foxx, Mark Walker, David Rouzer, Robert Pittenger, Patrick McHenry, Mark Meadows, Alma Adams and George Holding, and U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis for this important event on Tuesday, Sept. 8 and Wednesday, Sept. 9 in Washington, D.C.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit Hudson.house.gov/NCBEDS.

Rep. Richard Hudson, R-Concord, represents North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District, which includes all of Richmond County.

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Richard Hudson

Contributing Columnist