A ribbon-cutting and first sandwich ceremony was held last Thursday for the new Chick-fil-A restaurant at Fox Mill Center, Gloucester. Shown taking part in the ceremony are, from left, Buddy Rilee, chairman of the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors; Erin Gordon, wife of store owner John F. Gordon III, and their son, John IV; Gordon; Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) and Mike Hensley, senior business consultant for Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A. Photo by Bill Nachman

Small businesses are often financially vulnerable in their first years of operations, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) said, and Congress may take steps to change that during 2011.

While attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Chick-fil-A restaurant at Fox Mill Center last Thursday, Wittman took a few minutes to talk about the overall small business climate. He said that tax credits, now available to assist some small businesses in their first year, might be extended to two years—often the most critical years in determining a business’s success.

Wittman said that small businesses play an important part in the overall economic health of the First District and many other parts of the country. Although recent years have seen the overall economy weaken, Wittman said many small businesses have continued to venture forth both here and elsewhere.

During a weaker economy, Wittman said, a business like Chick-fil-A coming to Gloucester is very important because it shows a large national company recognizes good business potential here. Also, it brings 70 full- and part-time jobs, which Wittman said are needed in these days of cutbacks and layoffs.

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