Pembroke, NH – This week, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) visited Associated Grocers – New England (AGNE) in Pembroke, which serves independent grocery and convenience stores in the Northeast. Kuster toured the facility and met with leadership and employees to hear more about AGNE’s work.

“Local businesses play a critical role in the productivity of our state and national economy, and it is imperative that we support them,” said Kuster. “It was great to visit AGNE and hear firsthand about the impact their work has on our Granite State communities. I’ll continue my efforts to empower businesses around New Hampshire and across the country.”

“AGNE thanks Congresswoman Kuster for taking the time to tour our Pembroke facility,” said Mike Violette, President/CEO of AGNE. “We appreciate the opportunity to show our representative the largest retailer-owned, wholesale grocery distribution center in New England, and discuss the many issues that impact our co-op, employees, and the communities we serve.”

Congresswoman Kuster has consistently supported funding for the Small Business Development Centers (SBDC). She is a cosponsor of H.R. 1615, the VA-SBA Act, which would transfer the responsibility of verifying small business concerns owned and controlled by veterans or service-disabled veterans to the Small Business Administration, and for other purposes. Kuster is also a cosponsor of H.R. 2633, the Study of Office of Rural Affairs, within the Small Business Administration, which would study why the Office of Rural Affairs within the Small Business Administration (SBA) was dismantled. The SBA would be required to submit a report to Congress explaining why the office was dismantled.

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