HAGERSTOWN, Md. — With a front row seat literally across the street from the White House, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a 19-state, multi-city “Free Enterprise Express” bus tour on Friday, Sept. 18. Its goal is to put “a national spotlight on the local leaders, employers and workers fueling growth and opportunity across America.”
The tour, led by Neil Bradley, the U.S. Chamber’s executive vice president, chief policy officer and head of strategic advocacy, includes a team touring on behalf of free enterprise at a time when other alternatives are being discussed, and to gather perspectives from communities along their route.
HCC President James Klauber led the group on a brief tour of the culinary portion of the school’s incubators and labs.
The incubators are an innovative component of the college offering “startups, small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs’ office space, commercial kitchen space and research labs” to test out their ideas. HCC also provides expertise to help entrepreneurs take their ideas from concepts to a well-performing, successful business.
After refreshments, Kolb introduced several current incubator participants to share their story, their innovations and the status of their businesses as they approach the start of what all hope will be successful business operations.
Frey then introduced Bradley for a brief presentation tailored to Hagerstown. Bradley made several points:
· New business applications more than doubled in Washington County since 2015
· Because entrepreneurs took risks in businesses large and small, innovation takes place. For example, a 1992 Toyota Camry getting 21 mpg took 32 weeks of work to purchase, while a 2024 Camry took only 23 weeks of work and got 32 mpg.
· In spite of these benefits, even the innovation of free enterprise could not keep up with 21% inflation from 2020-2024. Inflation resulted in increased prices across a wide range of products.
· Finally, economic growth in America was well over 3% for 60 years until 2010. Growth at that 3% means the economy doubles every 23 years or roughly every generation which is what makes it possible for everyone to prosper over long periods of time.
After a brief question and answer period, Frey presented Bradley with a token of the Chamber’s appreciation for stopping in Hagerstown.
The travelers took time to visit with others and exchange views on local conditions before eventually driving off to deliver their message to more communities.
