Are small businesses hopeful for the future?

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Many small businesses have been trying to stay afloat during difficult times, so what does the re-election of the President mean for them?

In September, small businesses weren't feeling very optimistic about the future.

The National Federation of Independent Business reported that just 4-percent of the nation's small businesses planned to hire new workers. But with the election of President Obama to another four-year term they are hopeful for the future.

According to Christine Phillips of the United Personnel, “He has to be bringing people to the table to make important decisions…reducing the deficit, creating jobs, keeping jobs and jobs that are good paying jobs for people. We see people who walk in the door everyday that have had excellent jobs that have had health care and have families to feed and they need work.”

Small businesses from throughout western Mass gathered for the Chamber Breakfast post election at the Ludlow Country Club Wednesday morning.

The Chamber President says their members have many issues they want addressed in the next four years.

Jeffrey Ciuffreda, the Pres. of Affiliated Chambers of Commerce Greater Springfield, told 22News, “They really are concerned about the tax structure that's going to come up. In the state, it's a lot of cost of doing business issues, unemployment insurance, and those types of things.”

With a lower unemployment rate than the rest of the nation, local small businesses have been able to weather the ups and downs in the economy.

“In western mass, I think our economy is spread out so we may not get to high part of highs but we won't get to the lowest part of the lows either,” said Ciuffreda.