NORTH CANTON —At the Akron-Canton Airport on Monday, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, joined representatives from the office of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture) to host a workshop to connect Ohio small businesses with important resources to grow their businesses and create jobs.

“The best way I do my job is to listen to your concerns and the issues you face running and expanding your business,” Brown said at the workshop. “The best ideas don’t come out of Washington – they come from conversations with Ohioans. And these are often issues where we can cut through the partisan gridlock, and work together.”

The workshop included panels, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities, including information on SBA loans and technical assistance, export opportunities, and federal government contracting, a financing session specifically catered to small business financing needs and networking with local small business counselors and resource partners.