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By Heesun Wee
CNBC, Jan 12, 2016

As the broad U.S. economy finished 2015 with a big round of job creation, more pockets of Main Street are feeling optimistic about near-term prospects and planning to add new positions. ...

For now, small-business owners planning to hire include Gina Schaefer. She's co-owner of nine Ace Hardware stores in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Schaefer has plans to open two more locations in the new year and has recently hired about a dozen new workers, with plans to bring on about 12 more.

"The mood has gotten lighter and lighter over the years," said Schaefer, who founded her business in 2003. She's friends with colleagues who run hardware stores across the country and the business outlook has improved.

"Stores are feeling better," Schaefer said. "We made it through the recession."

Looking ahead, Schaefer said she wants to continue paying above-average minimum wages to her employees to lift retention and the quality of her hires. From Amazon to big-box home retailers, there has been increased competition in the area. "We have to win on convenience and customer service," Schaefer said.

Her starting wage is $11 an hour, well above the federal minimum of $7.25. "I need to treat employees really well and that means better wages and benefits," she said. ...

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