Kuster Bringing 'Congress at Your Company' to Salem Biz

Submitted on behalf of Congresswoman Annie Kuster

On Monday, Nov. 4 at 10:30 a.m., Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) will continue her "Congress at Your Company" series with a visit to Innovative FOTO in Salem, where she will highlight legislation she recently introduced that would help boost small business exports in the Granite State. 

Kuster’s bill, the Small Business Growth Through Exports Act, would extend and expand the State Trade and Export Promotion program (STEP), which has helped dozens of Granite State companies like Innovative FOTO expand their exports, create jobs, and grow New Hampshire’s economy.

Innovative FOTO, which is the largest designer, manufacturer, and operator of photo booths and digital photo kiosks in the United States, was recently awarded $1,100 through the STEP program. Company officials, who operate more than 3,000 photo booths in North America and around the world, used the funds to cover costs related to expansion in the South American market.

Launched in 2010, the STEP program was created to help grow the number of businesses exporting their goods and to increase the value of U.S. exports on the global market. The program, which will receive no new funding without Congressional action, helps businesses attend international trade shows, supports export training programs, and assists with the development of international marketing materials, among other efforts to boost exports. Kuster’s Small Business Growth Through Exports Act would extend the program for another three years, and double the federal funding available each year from $30 million to $60 million.

A member of the House Small Business Committee, Kuster’s top priority is helping create jobs and opportunity for middle class families in New Hampshire. The first bill she authored would incentivize public-private partnerships to improve workforce development for New Hampshire students.  She has also supported legislation to make permanent the federal research and development tax credit, helped lead the fight to prevent pending regulations from harming New England farmers, and worked to protect New Hampshire small businesses from burdensome online sales tax collection requirements.

In January, Kuster launched her ongoing “Congress at Your Company” series to hear directly from business leaders about ways the federal government can better support job creation and economic growth in the Granite State.