National Small Business Week April 30 - May 6 in Guttenberg
Chamber Director Emily Sadewasser watched as Mayor Loven signed a proclamation of Guttenberg's support and joining of a national effort to help America’s small business owners do what they do best – grow their business, create jobs, and ensure that our communities remain as vibrant tomorrow as they are today. (Press photo by Molly Moser)
By Molly Moser
Mayor Russ Loven signed a proclamation of Guttenberg’s support of National Small Business Week, April 30 – May 6, as declared by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business (one with less than 500 employees), and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. According to the SBA, in Iowa small businesses account for 97.1 percent of all employers statewide. Small businesses in Iowa employ almost half of all employees in the state, and in 88 of Iowa’s 99 counties, small businesses with less than 100 employees make up 75 percent or more of the county’s total businesses. In Clayton County, over 85 percent of businesses have less than 100 employees.
The most popular small businesses in Iowa are construction, services, and real estate. Over 93 percent of the businesses in these industries have less than 20 employees. Statewide, 33 percent of small businesses are female-owned, 54 percent are male-owned, and 13 percent are equally male and female owned. This is very comparable to the United States as a whole, except Iowa has a larger percentage of equally male and female owned businesses at 13 percent compared to the U.S. at 9 percent.
Small businesses provide jobs, goods and services, and Mayor Loven points to yet another way shopping locally aids the community. “Supporting local retailers is really beneficial to the city in many ways. The local option sales tax, which is one percent of the seven we pay, is sent to the state and then comes back to the county for redistribution. The money that brings in is used for paving streets and other city projects. So the more spent locally, especially in the county, the more we have to use for services to the community.”
Every year since 1963, SBA highlights the impact of outstanding entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from across the nation through National Small Business Week. People nationwide are invited to follow and participate in SBA events throughout the week, beginning with the announcement of Small Business Person of the Year and other awards on Monday, May 1. On May 2, SBA Administrator Linda McMahon and Facebook’s VP and Chief Privacy Officer for Policy Erin Egan will chat live about how to start and grow a business. Administrator McMahon will share her story and tips on how to make a small business a success, and participants may engage in the chat by submitting questions.
Free webinars will be presented throughout the week at www.sba.gov/nsbw/webinars with topics ranging from the U.S. economy and its impact on small businesses to growing your business online. Presenters include Visa, Google, Yellow Pages, Constant Contact, and other familiar names.
The mayor knows all too well the struggles of small business owners. “I always make every effort to support small business because I grew up in a small business family so I had those kind of roots,” he explained. Loven’s father owned a car repair station and salvage yard in Waukon. His wife, Juanita, started a restaurant in Spillville and a book store in downtown Guttenberg.
“I know the importance of it and the struggles they have. It’s tough,” said the mayor. Over the past several decades, external forces have affected the competitiveness of small businesses. Citizens are more mobile and technologically connected, while big box retail and internet sales have made global competition a factor. Women, the primary household purchasers, are members of the work force and thus are making the majority of their purchases on Saturday, Sunday and in the evening, when business owners may close up shop to spend valuable time with their own families.
Chamber of Commerce Director Emily Sadewasser prompted the city to celebrate National Small Business Week after a downtown employee brought the event to her attention. “This occasion reminds us that throughout the year, we should be supporting small businesses, shopping locally, and getting services locally – because small businesses are what keep our town vibrant,” she said.
