[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING DAWN DALLAIRE

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                       HON. LYNN C. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dawn 
Dallaire from Georgia's 3rd Congressional District, the U.S. Small 
Business Administration's 2008 Small Business Person of the Year for 
Georgia.
  Just five years ago, Dallaire started a specialty-soap business in 
the garage of her Fayetteville home and produced $47,000 in revenues. 
Today, her business, Clearly Fun Soap, has created local jobs and 
projects annual revenues to reach near $3 million.
  Like many inventors, Dallaire didn't start out intending to become 
CEO of a company: she was simply making gifts for friends. She 
perfected her ``goldfish in a bag''--which has become her signature 
product in the U.S. gift market--and then branched out with new 
designs.
  Dallaire's fortunes took a fateful turn when she took her soap 
products to a gift show in Florida. There, she took $5,000 worth of 
orders and happy customers started coming back.
  By 2005, Dallaire's soap business had bubbled beyond the garage. With 
the help of a Small Business Administration Community Express Loan, she 
opened a 5,000-square-foot facility in Griffin, another city in the 3rd 
District. But the growth continued. Two years later, Clearly Fun Soap 
upgraded to a 10,000-square-foot facility with 15 full-time employees, 
with up to 35 part-time employees.
  Clearly Fun Soap now dots the shelves at Bath & Body Works. Linens N 
Things, Marshall's and TJ Maxx with accounts pending at other major 
retailers. Soon, Dallaire will publish her book ``Being a Woman in 
Business in a Man's World'' which chronicles both her business and 
personal accomplishments--including losing 120 pounds.
  Our small businesses are the economic engine of our economy and they 
create over 75 percent of new jobs. Small business people such as 
Dallaire are helping others as they help themselves. I want to 
congratulate Dawn Dallaire on this distinguished award. It's truly a 
great honor that reflects her truly great accomplishments. Georgia's 
3rd District is proud to call her one of our own.
  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House of Representatives, I again 
congratulate Dawn Dallaire, the Georgia Small Business Person of the 
Year for 2008, and wish her and Clearly Fun Soap continued success at 
``cleaning up.''

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