Elyria Businessman with President While New Jobs Bill Signed

WASHINGTON —Bradley Ohlemacher has had two “once in a lifetime” experiences involving President Barack Obama.

Ohlemacher took the president around his EMC Precision Machining company when Obama made a town hall visit to Elyria on Jan. 22.

Yesterday, Ohlemacher was front and center in the East Room of the White House when Obama signed the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010.

“It was quite an experience when the President came to visit me, a once-in-a-lifetime thing.” The two men talked about the difficulties small businesses were having.

Then on Thursday, the White House called and invited him to the signing of the small business bill. Another “once in a lifetime” experience, Ohlemacher said.

“Pretty cool. They called back and said they had a spot reserved for me in the front row … in the East Room … I was front and center,” he said.

“After the signing, (Obama) shook hands with everyone in the front row. It was a very special event, quite an experience.”

Ohlemacher, a member of the Precision Machined Products Association Government Affairs Committee, said in January he was able to talk to the president about priorities for small businesses and some of those concerns were addressed in the bill.

The law signed by the president includes a $30 billion loan fund for small business lending, makes Small Business Administration loans more accessible, reduces small business taxes and extends the bonus depreciation.

Businesses will have more access to credit with the act and be able to invest in their companies and purchase equipment to make them more competitive, Ohlemacher said.

Some of the provisions in the bill will benefit his company, he said, such as the provision regarding depreciation expenses and making loans more available.

“You make an investment in competitive equipment, makes you more competitive. There’s more business and you employ more people,” Ohlemacher said.

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