[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3985-S3986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING NEL'S BI-LO MARKET

 Mr. RISCH. Madam President, Idaho small businesses are the 
backbone of our economy and our communities. These small businesses not 
only employ friends and neighbors, but they showcase Idaho's creativity 
and values. Idaho small businesses provide invaluable goods and 
services and are an intrinsic element of the Gem State. These small 
businesses deserve to be celebrated for the integral role they play in 
our communities. I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide 
initiative, on June 7, to encourage

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Idahoans to support the small businesses that make the Gem State 
special. As a member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on 
Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Nel's Bi-Lo 
Market as one of Idaho's Small Businesses of the Month for June 2024.
  Nel's Bi-Lo Market has been a mainstay in Pocatello for over half a 
century. Originally known as ``The Little Chief'' in the late 1930s and 
1940s, Ray Colaianni and his brother-in-law Jim Grayson took ownership 
and renamed the store Bilo Food Center in the mid-1940s. In 1991, after 
running Del Monte Meats as third generation owners, Todd and Linda 
Nelson bought the store. Todd learned about the business from his 
father Ron at the age of 9 and was a journeyman meat cutter by 15. 
After running Del Monte for 20 years, Todd sold the business in 1996 to 
devote his time and attention to Nel's Bilo Food Center. Upon his 
retirement, Todd's son-in-law Barry and his wife Jacque took over the 
business in 2009.
  Under Barry and Jacque Dutton's ownership, southeast Idahoans still 
receive the impeccable customer service Nel's Bi-Lo Market was built 
on. Every customer and employee that walks into Nel's Bi-Lo Market is 
treated like an extension of the family. In return, they are invaluable 
to the Pocatello and Chubbuck community.
  Congratulations to the Nelsons, Duttons, and all of the employees at 
Nel's Bi-Lo Market for being selected as an Idaho Small Business of the 
Month for June 2024. You are an outstanding example of what it means to 
be one of Idaho's Local Gems. You make our great State proud, and I 
look forward to your continued growth and success.

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