WASHINGTON, D.C — Congressman Larry Kissell (NC-08) welcomed Richmond County and Eighth District business leaders and officials to Washington for this year’s North Carolina Business & Economic Development Summit recently. The annual bipartisan summit brings together small business owners, industry leaders and local government officials from across the state to provide a direct dialogue with congressional members to discuss the needs of North Carolina businesses.

“I share the very same focus as our area business leaders on doing everything possible to bring good jobs back home,” said Kissell. “When we give our local leaders and small business owners the tools they need to be successful, we can continue on the best path to getting our area’s economy back on track. Bringing government together at every level, along with the innovative and courageous minds of our job creators themselves, will best set an environment for job creation and economic recovery.”

Business leaders from throughout the district were on hand for the summit, which also included a leadership panel with executives from North Carolina companies and a question and answer panel with members of the North Carolina Congressional delegation. The annual event was started by the late Congressman Bill Hefner in the mid-1980s, and Kissell has continued the tradition to help local businesses and government officials in identifying solutions to their economic needs.

“For far too long, Richmond County and our area as a whole have been ravaged by bad Washington policies and unfair trade deals,” said Kissell. “I’m committed to making sure that our people make their voice heard in Congress, and if it means giving them a forum directly in the Capitol to voice their concerns, that’s what we’ll do. We must listen to the people on the ground in our cities and towns statewide. They know firsthand what it will take to create jobs and steer our economy on the right path, and I’ll continue to listen to them each and every step of the way.”

Joining Kissell in hosting the two-day event were fellow North Carolina Representatives G.K. Butterfield (NC-01), Renee Ellmers (NC-02), Walter Jones (NC-03), Patrick McHenry (NC-10), Mike McIntyre (NC-07) and Mel Watt (NC-12).