From growing up working at my family’s restaurant to establishing my own companies, I know the hard work and dedication that goes into making a business successful. That experience also taught me that every business is different, and that there is not one formula for success.

One of the most interesting things I was able to do while serving as president of a software company years ago was to visit with scores of manufacturers from across the country to see how they operated and to understand each business’s needs. That experience, among others, has helped inform my decisions all these years later as both a legislator and an advocate for businesses in Central New York.

In the coming months, I will be borrowing a page from that book and will be planning to tour as many local businesses, farms and not-for-profit organizations as I can to speak one-on-one with business owners and workers to learn about their challenges and what they need to prosper.

I encourage business owners with issues they’d like to discuss to arrange for a tour. This will give me a chance to learn first-hand about the economic challenges you face and also the many examples of success throughout our region. You can easily arrange a tour by visiting my official Assembly website www.assembly.state.ny.us/stirpe and clicking on the “Request a Tour of Your Business” or by contacting my office.

It is my hope that these tours will expand my understanding of the issues affecting small-business owners and workers, farmers and not-for-profits in the district. And that will provide me with the insight needed to serve you better.

In the legislature, I’ve always worked to make sure the voices of small-business owners and workers are heard loud and clear in Albany. That’s why I fought to secure nearly $7 million in critical funding to create jobs and ensure businesses in our region can stay and expand here. In addition, I helped pass legislation to eliminate the income tax on manufacturers and cut their property taxes by 20 percent, as well as legislation that slashed the corporate tax rate to its lowest level in almost 50 years. Measures like these help ensure our local economy can grow and our families can get ahead.

But I also know that the economic climate can be challenging and is constantly changing, as are the needs of local businesses. And I’d like to hear from all of you about it.

This is just one more way that I will continue working to make New York business friendly. And, as always, my door is open. Should you have questions about this or any other community issue, please don’t hesitate to contact me at StirpeA@assembly.state.ny.us or by calling 452-1115.