Susan Collins endorsed by National Federation of Independent Businesses at Naples event
NAILES, Maine — U.S. Sen. Susan Collins picked up another high-profile endorsement Thursday during a visit to this western Maine town, this one from a national organization representing small business owners who credit her with helping them survive the coronavirus pandemic.
Collins met with voters and local business leaders at P&K Sand and Gravel, a family-run operation that has been owned and operated by four generations of the same family for over five decades. Colleen Foster, one of the current owners, said her company avoided layoffs during the height of the pandemic thanks to the federal Paycheck Protection Program, a loan initiative she said Collins helped create.
“Thanks to the PPP loans, we were able to keep all of our people employed,” Foster told Collins during a brief remarks portion of the event. “Your office has also been incredibly responsive whenever we’ve had issues with federal agencies.”
Foster’s son, Cory Mitchell, formally accepted the endorsement on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, citing data from the Small Business Administration that showed the Paycheck Protection Program preserved over 250,000 jobs across Maine during the pandemic. Mitchell also noted that Collins’ own family operates a small business — SW Collins supply store in Caribou — suggesting personal familiarity with the challenges facing rural entrepreneurs.
At the podium, Collins expressed gratitude for the support while emphasizing her long-standing commitment to small business advocacy.
“I’ve made it a priority since my very first day in the Senate to deliver real solutions for Maine’s working families and job creators,” Collins said. “Programs like the Paycheck Protection Program aren’t just policy wins — they’re lifelines.”
The senator used the occasion to highlight other recent victories she says benefit Maine businesses, particularly her efforts to prevent tariffs on Canadian imports of salt and cement. She described behind-the-scenes negotiations with the Trump administration last year that she claims saved Maine municipalities hundreds of thousands of dollars in winter road maintenance costs.
“Canada isn’t China,” Collins said, referring to ongoing trade tensions. “They’re our friend, our neighbor, our closest ally and our biggest trading partner. These kinds of unilateral trade actions hurt American workers and American businesses.”
Local supporter Sam Merriam, whose company Great Northern Docks is based in Naples, attended the event with his children to show solidarity.
“She does great work for the state,” Merriam said simply. “It means a lot to see her taking time to come out and listen to folks here in rural Maine.”
Thursday’s appearance comes as Collins prepares for re-election next year, where she will face voters again after previously surviving tight margins in past races. Polling released earlier this week showed her approval rating holding steady among independent voters, many of whom identify strongly with small business concerns.
