Small businesses are the engine that drives our national economy. In fact, the Small Business Administration states that small businesses are responsible for generating 65 percent of new jobs over the last 17 years.

We must do everything possible to make them more competitive during tough economic times.

Consider the facts:

• There were only around 30 small breweries in the United States in 1976. Today, there are more than 2,000 breweries and brewpubs in every state in the country, with many more in the planning phase.

• In Colorado alone, there are 141 operating breweries. Colorado craft brewers have created more than 4,200 brewery-related jobs in Colorado, which is 64 percent of all brewery-related jobs in the state.

• Nationally, small brewers employ nearly 100,000 full- and part-time workers, generate more than $3 billion in wages and benefits, and pay more than $2.3 billion in business, personal and consumption taxes.

• Small brewers typically employ 10 to 50 workers, and often are critical to urban restoration and rejuvenation.

As they work to create and innovate, small brewers still operate as small businesses and are not immune to economic