Thursday, March 2, 2023

Rep. Meuser Invites Schuylkill County Businessman to Testify in Washington, D.C


A Schuylkill County businessman offered testimony in Washington, D.C. this week at the invitation of Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-09) before the House Committee on Small Business as part of a hearing entitled, “From Nothing to Something: The Story of the American Dream.”
Roy Heim, founder, and owner of Heim Construction Co., Orwigsburg, joined three other small business owners from across the country to offer testimony at the hearing, which highlighted the challenges faced by small businesses, including inflation, workforce issues, regulatory burdens, supply chain issues, and access to capital.

“This committee seeks to be a voice for Main Street America, in Washington,” commented House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (TX-25). “As job creators, you are the driving force of our nation’s economy, accounting for more than half the payroll of this entire country. More importantly, you are the backbone of your local communities, though many of your struggles often go unnoticed.”

“Roy embodies the spirit of the American entrepreneur and has spent over 30 years building his successful business despite many challenges along the way,” Meuser stated in his introduction. “With such a diverse set of projects and decades of experience, Mr. Heim knows first-hand how today’s economic headwinds are impacting small businesses like his across America and can provide valuable insight into the current state of Main Street America.”

During his testimony, Heim discussed American entrepreneurship. In 1991, he started as a small general contractor. Heim Construction is a full-service General Contracting, Design-Build, and Construction Management firm that builds commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential facilities, employing 95 hardworking Pennsylvanians.

“Over many years that we have been in business, a number of federal and state regulatory requirements surrounding the construction industry has also grown significantly,” Heim stated. “We spend an enormous amount of time and money to stay compliant, employing 15 full time employees in our office who work countless hours to ensure we remain in compliance with the forever changing regulations. Many of these laws and regulations, while well intended, make it much more difficult, if not impossible, for small business to comply, complete, and survive, let alone profit,” he emphasized.

Heim serves as an elected school board member and an appointed vocational tech board member for the Blue Mountain School District in Schuylkill County, where he graduated and was a carpentry student. He is also a community volunteer, an aspect he stated during his testimony shows another reason why small businesses are vital to communities, emphasizing their support to local causes.