MARSHALL COUNTY – Representatives from the Office of Rudy Yakym, Representative for the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, attended a Round Table hosted by the Plymouth Downtown Merchants on Tuesday morning at the Marshall County Museum and Crossroads Center.
District Director Griffin Nate, Representative Rudy Yakym, and Field Reporter Mikie Crate engaged with the community and discussed topics including but not limited to the challenges facing small businesses, inflation, energy resources, and the price of eggs. Yakym also serves as a member of the House Budget Committee and the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.
Yakym is a fourth generation Hoosier. His great grandfather came over from Eastern Europe to escape the Russian Army who was building bases in his home town in preparation of World War I. He ultimately established roots in South Bend in the 1920’s and worked in manufacturing for Studebaker building cars. “The family has been in north central Indiana ever since.”
Yakym has been married to the love of his life SallyAnn for seven years. They have three children ages 13, 12, and 7.
Yakym has a strong background in business helping people build companies. “I understand where job creation comes from. It’s not the State or Federal government. It comes from people who are just doing their jobs here locally, expanding their businesses, and come in with good ideas along the way.”
He is a strong supporter of downtown revitalization converting boarded up and vacant downtowns in to thriving economic resources adding to the sense of pride for their communities. “You’ve created a City here, particularly the past ten years, that people who grew up here want to stay here.” He added that people who are not from here, want to visit.
When asked about financial resources to support Main Street USA, Yakym referenced GRANTS.GOV, the Federal Historic Tax Credit, and the Regional Economic Acceleration & Development Initiative (READI) grants. He is anticipating another significant allocation of READI Grant funding.
In addition to board driven promotion of Plymouth, from organizations such as Marshall County Tourism, events can also be a draw for visitors to a region. Yakym noted the attraction that The REES Theatre is to draw people in and illustrated that before or after the event visitors are likely to purchase dinner at a local restaurant and shop local stores downtown. “The REES Theatre is such an incredible draw – a local and regional draw.”
City of Plymouth Coordinator Laura Mann said that the downtown merchants attempt to coordinate a merchant event once a month to stimulate the economy including but not limited to the October Chocolate Walk and Galentine’s in February. The goal of each event is to attract visitors to each shop downtown. Mann also highlighted Mayor’s Month of Music which this year will offer free entertainment every Friday in July, August and the first Friday in September.
Anna Kietzman, President of Heartland Artists Gallery, noted the huge undertaking that such events are; citing experience from hosting Art in the Street every year. She noted a distinction between organizations that host such events and small business owners who are struggling to keep their doors open on top of trying to create engagement through events.
Despite the struggle, events can drive traffic to downtown merchants stimulating the economy. Collaboration among the merchants and the “Arts Block” – which includes the Museum, Heartland Artists Gallery, The REES, and the Wild Rose Moon – contributes to each other’s success.
Mann referenced a parking study completed by the Michiana Area Council of Governments (MACOG) which illustrated that the downtown Plymouth has ample parking and within walking distance to the merchants.
Yakym stated that inflation is being tracked Federally and asked for feedback from the merchants what the impact has been locally.
Hope Celmer, owner of The French Press, noted that the cost of eggs for breakfast sandwiches has impacted her business. Supply chain demand issues have made it difficult for her to acquire lids for coffee cups and she has experienced delays in shipment of coffee – issues not easy to resolve.
Sandy Saenz, owner of Simplee Stated Gifts, said that shipping costs have been high. She said that where she once paid 10%, she is now facing 15%, 20%, sometimes 25% – along with additional freight or fuel charges. Small business owners are struggling with rapidly increasing costs and fighting against having to overcharge their customers for wares. She noted that Downtown Plymouth has been known for keeping shop local prices within reason; though that momentum is getting harder to sustain for small business owners who also need to keep the lights on, the doors open and feed their families.
Yakym illustrated that labor rates in trucking and energy prices have escalated. The committees discuss what they can do to unleash American energy and unleash additional people to enter the trucking industry to stabilize freight pricing. “It’s a huge issue in our economy.”
With inflation being driven by an unbalanced Federal Budget and excessive Federal Government spending in the amount of $1.5 to $2 Trillion dollars annually, the goals for some on the Budget Committee include reigning that in for 2024 and avoid driving Federal spending higher. Businesses and consumers get hurt during inflationary times; particularly Senior Citizens who are renting and on a fixed income.
Food and rent are the biggest drivers of expense for Senior Citizens who do not own their own home – food has gone up 30%, rent has gone up 15% to 18%. When the fixed income only increases 7% to 9%; that leaves people to face extremely tough choices. Working families are also facing tough decisions. “This is why I want to make sure at the Federal level that we get inflation under control. We have to do our part in Congress.”
Yakym is a supporter of Free Market Economics and believes that when consumers are allowed to make the decisions that are best for them that the macro-economy ends up in better shape. He believes that the role of government is to remove excessive bureaucracy to enable domestic production of energy thus facilitating an ongoing supply of low-cost energy. Economies cannot thrive without energy.
Labor Force Participation Rate today has not returned to pre-pandemic levels and sits at around 64%. Unemployment numbers recently released by the Federal Government are at 3.4% which is the lowest it’s been in a long time thus illustrating that almost everyone who wants a job has one; however there is a large potion of the workforce who are not seeking employment. Yakym is in favor of program reform which includes some employment requirements for able-bodied individuals.
For those who missed the Round Table meeting Tuesday morning, Yakym and his family will be attending the GOP Lincoln Day event on Saturday, February 25 at The REES Theatre located at 100 N. Michigan Street, Plymouth. Social hour will begin at 5:30 p.m, followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Yakym will be the Keynote Speaker for the event. Tickets can be purchased for $50 each. Email mcgop50@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased by contacting a member of the Marshall County Republican Party Committee Deborah VanDeMark, Jim Masterson, Sharon Dotta, or Bryan Howard.
