Businesses are booming in the F-M area and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar says it’s all thanks to small businesses being the engine of the economy.

Flowers blossom from a seed, babies grow up to be kids and the economy grows from the startup of small businesses.

“Target started as a dry cleaning store. 3M started as a sandpaper company in Duluth. So you just see this entrepreneurial spirit that has made a difference,” said U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar took time out of her busy schedule to discuss the importance of small business at MSUM. Klobuchar, faculty and students presented cases on how building a small local business can lead to building a better economy.

“If you stop that entrepreneurial spirit, we are not America anymore because we were built on small businesses,” said Klobuchar.

Students also share the importance of entrepreneurship within their own startup businesses.

“I also would like to do event planning or plan for venues and this is going to be something that will push me forward in that,” said MSUM Student Karly Syverson.

MSUM has an entrepreneurship program. The university is looking to add this as an option for a minor starting in fall of 2017.

Alison Olson majors in music at MSUM and wants to start her own company which will incorporate her music.

“A way that I can do that is branch out more in the business aspect of it and getting that entrepreneurial spirit has really showed me how many opportunities I have and this is truly an awesome opportunity,” said Olson.

Klobuchar says she’s more than excited to see what the future holds for students who choose to hop on the entrepreneurship bandwagon.

“It doesn’t say, ‘hey not every kid has to go into this degree because that’s where the jobs are.’ It says pursue your dreams, but let’s be practical about it and learn some business skills,” said Klobuchar.

Sanford Medical Center, U.S Bank and Microsoft are just a few businesses that list as major employers in the F-M area.

Senator Klobuchar will continue to talk the importance of small businesses during her economy tour on Saturday.