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Klobuchar Hosts Roundtable Discussion Highlighting Small Business Administration Initiatives to Assist Businesses Adversely Affected by National Hockey League Lockout

Klobuchar and Mayor Coleman urge parties to come together to resolve lockout so businesses can get back to work

December 7, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today hosted a roundtable discussion at the Eagle Street Grille in St. Paul to highlight initiatives by the Small Business Administration (SBA) to assist businesses that have been hurt by the National Hockey League (NHL) lockout. Klobuchar urged the parties involved to come together to resolve the lockout so businesses can get back to work and encouraged people to visit the businesses around the Xcel Energy Center that have been affected by the lockout. Klobuchar was joined by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, SBA District Director Nancy Libersky, St. Paul Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Matt Kramer, as well as local business owners.

“It’s been 83 days since the lockout began, and small businesses are hurting,”Klobuchar said. “It’s not just the restaurants and bars that have lost business. It’s also the office supply company selling the printer paper. It’s the baker making the buns for the hamburgers. The SBA is here to help businesses get through this tough time, but the real relief will come only when the lockout ends and hockey returns to Minnesota.”

The Small Business Administration is providing counseling sessions and other outreach efforts and initiatives to assist small businesses and help them navigate the challenges they face from the lockout.

Following the lockout of 2004 and 2005, the city of St. Paul lost about $60 million in revenue, and today per-game financial losses are estimated to be around $900,000.

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