Headlines on TV news casts and in daily papers across the country constantly trumpet the rise and fall of corporate America. You know the ones – huge, multi-national corporations, most with top-of-mind recognition.
Their fate, we are told, is our fate. Is it really?
We’re not suggesting for a minute that major local or national manufacturers are not important. They add an important dynamic without which our communities would be incomplete.
But their successes and challenges don’t necessarily translate into ours.
Our collective success is made or lost on the merits of the interactions that take place between the hundreds and thousands of small businesses that make up our business marketplace.
Stop and think for a minute about your business. How many local businesses are you doing business with? What other small businesses are trading with them?
Small business is the economic engine of our community and of communities like ours throughout the region and the country.
April 21 through April 25 is National Small Business Week. For the last 45 years, every United States President has declared this week be set aside to honor small businesses throughout the country for their integral part in the national economy.
The definition of a small business seems to be as varied as those who might talk about it. According to the Small Business Association, which defines small business differently by category of business or industry, the largest of small businesses are less than 500 employees and companies with annual revenues less than $31 million.
Applying this standard to our marketplace makes it clear our economy is one of small business.
Less than half of the largest 50 employers in Clark County have more than 500 employees. Certainly, businesses with fewer than 50 employees have the ability to generate more than $31 million in revenues annually.
Far fewer than 200 mid-size or big businesses, when considering revenues and employees, call Southwest Washington home. At a local Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, an officer reported there are 16,000 businesses just in Clark County.
Even if there are half that many, and 200 are large businesses, that leaves 7,800 small business owners and their employees driving the local economy.
During Small Business Week, state small business persons of the year will be recognized at a luncheon in Washington, D.C. From those ranks the national small business person of the year will be named.
So, take time next week and celebrate small business – your business. Take pride in your accomplishments and the role you play in our local economy.
Your efforts truly make a difference here and we’re taking note.
