TROY, NC – Wednesday morning, Representative Larry Kissell (NC-08) dropped in on Troy Ready Mix and visited with owner James Macon and employees.

Kissell and Macon discussed the regional business climate, the need for continued improvement in the national economy and the impact the prolonged housing market downturn has had on many small businesses in the area.

“Folks such as the Macon family and their employees at Troy Ready Mix are the backbone of our regional and national economy, and they are the key to getting things turned around and moving in the right direction again,” Kissell said following the visit. “The solutions to our nation's problems are much more likely to be found by listening to people in our small towns and small businesses than they are to be found by so-called experts in Washington."

James Macon opened Troy Ready Mix in 1968. His son, Jeff, joined him in the business in 1986. According to Jeff, the company has nine employees aside from his father and himself. James Macon said business has been fairly good for the company in recent months, but that the continued slowdown in construction has hurt the company and many other businesses in the region. He thanked Kissell for his work on behalf of the concrete industry and small business in general.

"I appreciate everything the Congressman is doing for businesses like ours," Macon said. "It was really good to have him come by and see what we are doing here."

On the morning of Kissell's visit, the company was producing concrete parking lot curbs that will be shipped to Virginia. One of the employees working on the curb project was Zach Smith, a former student of Kissell's at East Montgomery High School.

"Small businesses and the people who invest their lives in them make small town and middle class life in America possible," said Kissell. "The goods purchased, wages paid and products sold by small businesses are the key to our economy, and the key to its continued recovery. I am proud of Troy Ready Mix and the many other small business in our district who are doing their part to keep America working."

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Photo Attached: Zach Smith, Representative Larry Kissell and owner James Macon visit during Kissell's Wednesday tour of Troy Ready Mix, which Macon opened in 1968. Smith, an employee of the business, was a student of Kissell's at East Montgomery High School.