Charlie Edwards (left), Sally Edwards Darnell, state Rep. Clay Doggett, NFIB State Director Jim Brown, and Jonathan Edwards.

The state office of NFIB today presented its coveted Guardian of Small Business award to state Rep. Clay Doggett (District 70, which includes Giles and part of Lawrence and Lincoln counties).

“Clay Doggett has been an outstanding supporter of small business since becoming a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2019,” NFIB State Director Jim Brown said. “Representative Doggett has been supportive of major tax and labor reforms that are stimulating hiring and investment and contributing to Tennessee’s positive economic environment. His 100 percent NFIB Voting Record in 2023-24 demonstrates his continuing support for small businesses in his district and statewide.”

The Guardian of Small Business award is the most prestigious honor that NFIB bestows on legislators in recognition of their efforts to support small business. The NFIB Tennessee Leadership Council, an advisory board comprised of NFIB members, voted to present the award to Doggett for his outstanding leadership on small business issues. The presentation was made at Lawrenceburg-based Edwards Oil Co./Quik Mart, an NFIB member since 1975. Doggett has been an NFIB member since 2018.

Doggett said, “I’m very grateful to receive the NFIB Guardian of Small Business award. Small businesses really are the backbone of our state’s economy, and their continued success is critical for District 70 to continue in a positive direction. As a small business owner, I understand the many challenges our entrepreneurs face and I will continue to fight for policies in Nashville that help them grow and thrive.”

After the awards presentation, Quik Mart leaders gave Doggett a tour of their new commissary, which will provide to-go food to their 39 stores Southcentral Tennessee and Northern Alabama.