To honor the firms that employ nearly half of the state’s private-sector workforce, Gov. Roy Cooper has proclaimed April 29 ‒ May 5, 2018 as Small Business Week in North Carolina.
“Small businesses fuel prosperity in communities across North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper. “Whether they’re family-owned enterprises that have adapted and thrived for generations or younger, innovative firms that are part of the state’s vibrant startup community, these businesses deserve support and celebration.”
The Governor’s proclamation coincides with the celebration of National Small Business Week by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA defines a small business as one with fewer than 500 employees. According to the SBA, North Carolina is home to more than 870,000 small businesses that employ 1.6 million people, just shy of 45 percent of private-sector workers.
“Businesses with fewer than 100 people on the payroll account for the largest share of small business employment in North Carolina,” state Commerce Secretary Anthony M. Copeland said. “Many of these enterprises play an important role in creating jobs and opportunities in our small towns and rural areas.”
Small businesses also contribute significantly to the flow of exports from North Carolina to countries around the world. In 2014, the last year with SBA data, 9,500 small firms accounted for 26 percent of the value of goods exported from North Carolina, and made up more than 85 percent of the state’s exporters.
North Carolina offers a diverse array of services to support the growth of small businesses, including workforce training, business counseling and financial and technical assistance. Partners delivering this support include the state community colleges’ network of Small Business Centers; small business counselors at Business Link North Carolina (BLNC), a division of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC); international trade managers at the EDPNC who help small businesses grow their exports; the Small Business and Technology Development Center; the SCORE network of volunteer mentors; the NC Rural Center; the SBA Women’s Business Centers; and the SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center.
In addition, Gov. Cooper’s “NC Job Ready” initiative is seeking to develop a skilled workforce that will allow businesses of all sizes to grow and succeed. The initiative is built on three core principles: skills and education attainment so North Carolinians are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow, employer leadership to remain relevant to evolving industry needs, and local innovation to take great ideas and apply them statewide.
Click here to view Gov. Roy Cooper’s 2018 Small Business Week proclamation.