To wind up her visit to the Lehigh Valley on Monday, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler was given a lesson on how to make a Biaggio’s pizza.
Joined by Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie in the kitchen, Loeffler watched pizza maker John Duka pull together a pie as the lunchtime rush was beginning at Biaggio’s Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in South Whitehall Township.
Loeffler was in the Valley to promote the results of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and its effects on small businesses. Before coming to Biaggio’s, she visited Lehigh Valley Plastics in Bethlehem and Polymer Contours in Allentown.
“President Trump has solved the tax and the regulatory challenges in one year,” Loeffler said. “Now we’re focused on hiring, and that’s an incredible blue-collar boom for places like Pennsylvania.”
In its February survey of small businesses, the National Federation of Independent Business found that owners are optimistic about higher sales and profits in upcoming months. But labor was a concern, as the NFIB found that 33% of owners reported job openings they could not fill.
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, right, and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie visit Biaggio Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in South Whitehall Township on Monday, March 23. (Evan Jones/The Morning Call)
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler visits Biaggio Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in South Whitehall Township on Monday, March 23. (Evan Jones/The Morning Call).
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, right, and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie visit Biaggio Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in South Whitehall Township on Monday, March 23. (Evan Jones/The Morning Call)
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U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, right, and U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie visit Biaggio Pizzeria & Family Restaurant in South Whitehall Township on Monday, March 23. (Evan Jones/The Morning Call)
“Small businesses are spring-loaded to invest, thanks to the One Big, Beautiful Bill,” Loeffler said. “The common thread that we see everywhere we go is the skilled workforce. We need more workers. We are ready to hire.”
Georgette Ruffino, who was running the restaurant while husband Joe was out of town, said business has been good lately.
“Things are moving up,” she said. “[Business is] much better than the past few years.”
She mentioned that she was especially grateful for the elimination of taxes on tips.
Loeffler and Mackenzie both emphasized that the bill also helped small businesses with tax deductions to help retain employees and regulatory rollback of “bureaucratic” regulations to help bring down operating costs.