BRUNSWICK, ME — In advance of the holiday shopping season, U.S. Senator Angus King today toured small businesses in Downtown Bath as part of an effort to highlight local options for Maine people to consider when purchasing gifts in the weeks ahead. During his tour, Senator King visited Café Crème, Bath Natural Market, Bath Sweet Shoppe, Mockingbird Bookshop, Maine Street Design, Lisa-Marie’s Maine Made, Loyal Biscuit, and Bruno’s Wood Fired Pizza. The visits come ahead of “Small Business Saturday,” and as Maine businesses continue working to overcome the financial challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator King was accompanied on today’s stops by Diane Sturgeon, Director of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Maine District Office.

Senator King visits Loyal Biscuit in Downtown Bath ahead of ‘Small Business Saturday’ 

“Small businesses are a fundamental part of Maine’s economy and character, creating high-quality products and supporting good-paying jobs in our own backyards. If we want these businesses to remain central parts of our communities into the future, we need to support them with our wallets,” said Senator King. “The COVID-19 pandemic has stretched many of these local treasures to their limits, which is why it is more vital than ever that we give them our business this holiday season. For all the talk of issues with the supply chain, the simplest path to a gift is walking down the street. So today was a reminder for Maine people — when thinking of gifts, think local first. You’ll get a great present for your loved ones, and support your neighbor at the same time.”

During the tour, Senator King and the Maine leaders met with owners of Bath small businesses to discuss the challenges of the pandemic, and stress the importance of these local institutions to our communities. Some of the businesses they toured included, Café Crème, Bath Natural Market, Bath Sweet Shoppe, Mockingbird Bookshop, Maine Street Design, Lisa-Marie’s Maine Made, Loyal Biscuit, and Bruno’s Wood Fired Pizza.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator King has made supporting Maine’s small businesses one of his top priorities. The American Rescue Plan, which passed in March and was negotiated in part by Senator King, took important steps to support small businesses, including expanding the Paycheck Protection Program and extending a number of critical tax benefits for small businesses. In Maine, the aid package delivered $56,234,176 to businesses through the State Small Business Credit Initiative.