Local business looks forward to State of the Union

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Business at Kadel's Hallmark in Terre Haute is steady.

In fact, it's up 8 percent from 2011.

"We went down 43 percent in 2008 when the economy crashed so an 8 percent increase is a wonderful baby step up," Kadel's Hallmark Shoppe Owner Susan McCallum said.

Baby steps. What it's saying follows the Obama administration's goals.

President Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union address to Congress Tuesday night.

In it, he's expected to call for a debt reduction agreement.  However, the main focus is job creation.

Kadel's Hallmark is looking to hire one more employee.

"We tend to retain people for a long time, so we've been very blessed in that aspect of it; otherwise, we'd be looking for more," McCallum said.

Kadel's Hallmark has expanded since 2008, adding local marketing and offering more products.

"I'm hoping that he's going to feel the positive energy going forward, as we're feeling it.  We're feeling small steps.  The big steps people are looking for are just not there, but the small steps are working.  The confidence is building, and we're feeling it," McCallum said.

It's a speech that could build the momentum of small town business, as one local store hopes to share its success will others nationwide.

Obama will also discuss upcoming budget disputes, including the March 1st deadline for automatic defense and domestic cuts totaling $85 billion.