FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 2, 2017) – A Kentucky House panel on Thursday unanimously
approved Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes’ measure to help veterans start
and grow businesses in Kentucky. Grimes appeared before the House State Government
Committee to discuss her initiative.
“More than 330,000 Kentucky men and woman have fought for our rights, and I’ve been
committed to fighting for them,” said Grimes. “A mission of my administration is to
honor the service and sacrifice of our veterans. The ‘Boots to Business’ initiative
is way to help veterans begin writing new chapters in their lives.”
House Bill 114 would waive initial registration fees for new veteran-owned entities
and waive annual report filing fees for the first four years those businesses
operate. Rep. Jody Richards is the bill’s sponsor.
“The Secretary and I have been working on this legislation for two years, so I was
happy to carry it again to help pay tribute to Kentucky’s veterans,” said Richards.
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans, and House Bill 114 is how the
Commonwealth can again say, ‘Thank you.'”
“Boots to Business” carries the support of many veterans and veteran organizations,
including the Kentucky Joint Executive Council of Veterans Organizations (JECVO) and
the Kentucky National Guard Association. Brig. Gen. Steven P. Bullard, chief of
staff of the Kentucky National Air Guard, joined Grimes and Richards in their
testimony before the committee to show support for the measure.
Grimes unveiled the “Boots to Business” initiative in the 2016 General Assembly. The
House passed the measure last year without a single dissenting vote, but the Senate
did not consider the bill.
Retired Army Capt. Josh Kinsel owns K&S Customz, a motorcycle engine repair
business, in Louisville. He praised Grimes for backing “Boots to Business” when she
unveiled the initiative last year.
“As a veteran, it feels good to know that someone is there supporting us. Support
for the military – active-duty or veterans – is not what it used to be,” Kinsel said
at the time. “Having Sec. Grimes present a bill like this helps not only with the
monetary value, but with emotional value. I think I can speak for the majority of
veterans that the thing that makes us happy is the fact that Sec. Grimes is
continuing to help veterans.”
House Bill 114 now goes to the full House of Representatives for consideration.
