OPINION: Show main street some love this Valentine's Day 

Valentine’s Day is about showing appreciation. Not just with words, but with actions. For me, that means recognizing the small businesses that keep our communities strong.

Across our region, main street small businesses are the backbone of local economies. They are run by people who take risks, work long hours and invest everything they have into building something that lasts. Many are veterans who took the same grit and discipline they learned in uniform and put it into business ownership. Others are family-owned operations passed down through generations. All of them matter.

Supporting small businesses should not be complicated. Entrepreneurs want a fair shot, clear rules and access to capital so they can grow. They do not want excessive red tape or uncertainty standing in the way of hiring workers, expanding operations or serving their customers.

That is why the Trump administration is focused on putting main street first. A strong small business economy depends on affordability, flexibility and policies that allow job creators to do what they do best – grow their businesses, hire workers and serve their communities.

At the U.S. Small Business Administration, our role is straightforward. We help small businesses get access to the tools they need to compete. That includes working capital, strong lender partnerships and cutting through regulatory barriers that make it harder for entrepreneurs to succeed.

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler recently launched a Deregulation Strike Force dedicated to identifying and eliminating rules that disproportionately increase costs for America’s small business and their customers. The strike force is led by the SBA’s Office of Advocacy and is focused on regulations that have driven up prices in key industries like housing, health care, agriculture and energy. This work supports affordability and ensures that small businesses are not weighed down by costly, duplicative or unnecessary requirements.

SBA and the Office of Advocacy are committed to reviewing and fighting federal regulations on behalf of small businesses. That responsibility matters. When regulations pile up, small businesses feel it first. Cutting unnecessary red tape helps entrepreneurs reinvest in their businesses and keeps prices more affordable for customers.

I have spent time visiting small businesses across our region, including veteran owned businesses, rural shops, manufacturers and family-run operations. The common thread is always the same; these owners are proud of what they have built. They are committed to their communities. They want policies that reward hard work, not paperwork.

When small businesses succeed, communities are stronger and jobs stay local. Families have opportunities and towns and neighborhoods remain places where people want to live and work.

This Valentine’s Day, we recognize main street small businesses for what they are. They are the heart of our communities and the driving force behind American economic strength.

Loving main street means standing with the entrepreneurs who show up every day and keep this country moving forward.

Justin Crossie is the South Central regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration.