BIDDEFORD — U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, a champion of Maine small businesses, visited Volk Packaging Corp. in Biddeford on Tuesday. Douglas Volk, CEO of Volk Packaging, and his nephew Derek Volk, president, led Maine’s Republican senator on a tour of the facility, which employs 75 people.
Snowe discussed how onerous federal regulations and taxation laws can inhibit the ability of businesses like Volk to grow and create jobs for Maine people.
Federal government needs to assist “businesses like Volk (to) survive and thrive,” she said.
Earlier this month, Snowe introduced a bill designed to do just that.
The Freedom from Restrictive Excessive Executive Demands and Onerous Mandates Act, also known as the FREEDOM Act, would provide small businesses, like Volk Packaging, with relief from restrictive government regulations.
Many regulations are passed without consideration of how they could negatively impact small businesses, said Snowe.
The bill would require federal agencies to consider the indirect economic impact on small businesses before implementing new regulations, she said. It would also enforce rules to conduct regulatory reviews periodically, which would be every 10 years under the legislation.
“It’s a big issue,” said Snowe, “one that needs to be addressed.”
The senator said she enjoys taking tours like the one at Volk. They are very important in informing her decisions in the Senate, she said.
“I learn everything from my constituents,” said Snowe. “I certainly don’t learn it in Washington.”
The Republican said she was very impressed with the company as she watched machines that grab a sheet of cardboard, cut, fold and glue it, and then count and pack it ”“ all in one process.
The senator credited the innovative leadership of the company with creating a climate that allows it to thrive. It is “the best example of how to stay on the cutting edge,” said Snowe.
Volk Packaging manufacturers corrugated and foam products, specializing in boxes, for companies of all sizes.
It was founded in 1967 by father and son Benjamin and Tim Volk. Derek Volk, son of Tim, is the third generation running the firm with his uncle Douglas, who is the brother of Tim and son of Benjamin.
The company was the first to move into the Biddeford Industrial Park. In 1998, the company expanded and moved across the street from its former location, said Derek Volk.
Recently, the company expanded again by spending $2 million on new machinery that allows it to do more business.
Volk Packaging does approximately $20 million in business annually.
The majority of the its customers are in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont; 65 percent of its customers are based in Maine, said Volk.
Despite the country’s economic troubles, and losing one of its major customers, Volk had its most profitable years in 2009 and 2010, he said.
Regarding the effects of federal regulations on business, said Volk, “They may not be affecting me, but they’re affecting my customers. ”¦ If our customers can’t grow, we can’t grow.”
— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.
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