sm

By Debbie Gregory.

With the theme “Dream Big, Start Small,” President Obama declared May 1st -7th  as National Small Business Week.

The president said that America’s small businesses are “responsible for creating nearly two-thirds of net new jobs in the United States each year and employing more than half of all Americans.” He added that “small businesses have always been a vital part of our country’s economy. Across America, small businesses support economies, employ local residents, and contribute to the vibrancy of their communities.”

Throughout National Small Business Week, events will be live-streamed and focused on a variety of entrepreneurial topics including: trade, business trends and resources to help you start and grow a business, cyber security, veteran support, targeting millennial entrepreneurs and innovation. In addition there will be workshops on ideation to commercialization, small business opportunities in the entertainment industry and exporting opportunities.

Small businesses support economies, employ local residents, and contribute to their communities.

“Our Nation does best when we help our startups and small businesses expand into new markets and offer goods and services to more people,” said Obama

In 2015, the Obama administration awarded an all-time high of more than a quarter of eligible Federal contracts to small businesses.

The annual event is hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration and is designed to recognize the nation’s top small businesses, entrepreneurs, and business advocates. The week-long event will continue through May 6, with SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet hosting planned national events in New York, Denver, Phoenix, Oakland and San Jose, CA.

There are free training webinars covering:

  • Taking the Mystery out of Voluntary Benefits
  • The Decline of Magstripe Cards—and What That Means for Your Business
  • Cloud, Mobile, and Social: Great Apps and Services That Will Grow Your Business
  • Access to Capital and Business Loans: Best Practices, Tips for Getting Your Business Financially Fit

To see the city-by-city schedule and to register for the webinars or view live-streamed events please visit www.sba.gov/nsbw.