National Small Business Week features the 30 million small businesses in our country. Through award ceremonies, media interviews, and community events, we honor entrepreneurs whose accomplishments stand out. As an entrepreneur myself, I know the hard work that is done to start and build a small business – efforts that do not often get the attention they deserve.
The winners of this week's spotlight do not cast a shadow that diminishes the efforts of others; rather, they serve as a beacon – to competitors, newcomers and communities as a whole. They show what is possible. They are innovators and problem solvers, creating products and services that are better, smarter or more effective than ever before. They are risk takers. And because of their success, they inspire others to dream and create their own small businesses.
Importance of Small Businesses
Small businesses contribute immensely to our communities and our economy. They create two out of three net new jobs in the private sector. More than half of Americans work or own a small business. Entrepreneurs do not just earn a living, they make their neighborhoods vibrant places to live and work and contribute to the economic strength of our country.
The US Small Business Administration is so proud to have contributed to the success of small businesses for 65 years. Since 1953, the SBA has been supporting entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. The Agency – through its headquarters in Washington, DC; its 68 district offices nationwide; and Resource Partners such as Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, Veterans Affairs Centers and SCORE Sections – serve entrepreneurs at all stages of their life cycle. It guarantees loans to entrepreneurs who can not obtain capital from other sources, which mitigates the risk of the lender. It offers advice on starting and scaling a business, from writing a business plan to exporting products to the business. foreign. It trains small businesses to compete for government contracts. And this allows those who recover from a declared disaster to get back on their feet.
Whether they are starting up, expanding, or going through a difficult time, the SBA is the nation's only resource for small businesses, backed by the strength and resources of the federal government . It feeds the American dream. And the SBA is working to make this dream accessible to more Americans by modernizing its application processes, improving online resources and streamlining the way technology is used to deliver services more efficiently. and efficient.
National Small Business Week celebrates entrepreneurs who have used these resources to improve their lives and communities. And the SBA highlights their achievements. I hope this will clear the way for even more ambitious entrepreneurs who follow in their footsteps.
By Linda McMahon, Administrator of the SBA
Reissued with permission. Original here.
Image reproduced with the kind permission of the US Small Business Administration