By State Sen. Dennis Kruse (R-Auburn)
Since its creation in 2010, Small Business Saturday has sparked a nationwide movement to celebrate and support small businesses across the country. I encourage everyone to mark their calendars for this year’s Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as an enterprise having fewer than 500 employees.
Here in Indiana, small businesses have a significant impact on the fiscal condition of our state. In 2010, the SBA calculated that 97.4 percent of all employers were small businesses. In fact, nearly half of Indiana’s workforce is employed by a small business.
Not only do these businesses influence Indiana’s economy, they greatly impact our communities because they provide jobs, preserve neighborhoods and fuel local development.
According to the Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, if every family in the Fort Wayne metro area spent just $10 a month with a locally owned, independent business instead of a national chain, over $13 million would be directly returned to the Fort Wayne community. This means better schools, improved roads and more support for public safety.
For those reasons, my fellow legislators and I are constantly working to create a friendly environment for small businesses. We have helped create a low-tax, pro-growth economic climate, and have streamlined regulations that hinder employer expansion and the ability to hire more Hoosiers.
Last year, the Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC) launched Link Indiana, which is a database of resources for entrepreneurs. Small business owners can now access the site for assistance – from accounting and training, to marketing and technology.
Further information can be found by visiting www.isbdc.org.
As many of us begin preparing for the holiday season and the New Year, I challenge you to ‘shop small’ and continue to support Hoosier small businesses across the state.
What do you think?
