New York State Senate & Assembly Members Visit NFIB Member Curtis Lumber

March 17, 2022 Last Edit: June 5, 2025

New York State Senate & Assembly Members Visit NFIB Member Curtis Lumber

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt, Senator Daphne Jordan, and Assemblyman Jake Ashby toured longtime NFIB member Curtis Lumber in advance of NFIB’s annual Small Business Day. The visit allowed lawmakers to hear directly from a local, independent business about the challenges facing the small business community, and how elected leaders can help during the legislative session in Albany and negotiating the New York State budget. “As an independent, family-owned business, we are facing significant challenges, and the cost of doing business continues to escalate. Disruptions in the supply chain, widespread inflation, rising gas prices, labor shortages, and excessive Unemployment Insurance tax bills are unmanageable with no end in sight. Curtis Lumber was happy to meet with Leader Ortt and his colleagues to discuss our concerns and the need for tax relief measures to help businesses rebound,” said Rich Keating, V.P. Sales and Marketing, Curtis Lumber. “Small businesses employ half of New York’s workforce, generate nearly half of the state’s GDP, fund state and local tax bases, and are the cornerstones of strong and energetic communities and neighborhoods. Our villages, towns, and cities are better when there are independent, family-owned businesses like Curtis Lumber contributing to a thriving small business economy. At NFIB’s annual Small Business Day we are urgently asking New York’s elected leaders to provide essential tax and mandate relief to small businesses grappling with the economic losses of the last two years, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, rampant inflation, and unaffordable UI tax bills. NFIB thanks Senator Jordan, Leader Ortt, and Assemblymember Jake Ashby for their steadfast advocacy for significant tax relief and bettering New York’s business climate for our Main Street businesses,” said Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s New York State Director. “Curtis Lumber is a small business staple in our region and state. At a time when supply chain issues and inflation threaten everyday consumers, Curtis Lumber has proven time and again that they have the backs of our contractors, communities, and everyday New Yorkers. Now we must have their backs, and have the backs of all small businesses growing and thriving in our state. I thank Curtis Lumber and NFIB New York for allowing my colleagues and I to tour this great facility and show us all what it means to be an exemplary small business,” said Senator Jordan. “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. I would like to thank Curtis Lumber, NFIB-NY, and Senator Jordan for organizing today’s tour, and reminding us of our obligation to provide an environment in which small businesses can grow and thrive. New York-based manufacturing, production, supply, and distribution are what drives our state forward,” said Minority Leader Ortt. During the visit, lawmakers, representatives from Curtis Lumber, and NFIB discussed a variety of issues, including gas prices, inflation, supply chain disruptions and delays, New York’s overly burdensome tax and regulatory environment, and Small Business Day priorities including UI taxes, COVID sick leave reforms, and small business tax cuts.