National Small Business Week

National Small Business Week is May 1-7, 2016. Since 1963, National Small Business Week recognizes and supports the contributions, strengths, vitality and uniqueness our nation’s small businesses make to our local communities. Did you know that more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business? More than half! As noted by the Small Business Administration (SBA) roughly two out of every three new jobs created in the U.S. is created by a small business.

Have you ever wanted to start your own business? Have you dreamed of the day you could be your own boss? If you are an aspiring small business owner or a seasoned professional, be sure to check out the NSBW events calendar for live presentations happening all week long.

For those of us who are not small business owners, one of the best ways to help show your support for small business is to get out and shop in your local community. During this week-long event, people across the Northwest will join millions of Americans to support their favorite local businesses. I personally encourage you to show your support during this week and beyond. As an example, I’ve got a lot of summer yard projects planned so naturally I’m going to need some building materials, but rather than heading over to one of the big box stores I’ll be heading out to one of the smaller hardware stores near my home in Beaverton. Here are some suggestions on how you can show your support for small businesses near you:

• The spring planting season is here, so go visit a small plant nursery
• Put away your Starbucks card for a moment and check out a small coffee shop
• If personal grooming is in your future go check out a mom-and-pop salon or barber
• Skip the line at the grocery store and check out your local farmers market
• Get your spring cleaning done with the help of a local cleaning company

At Unitus, we are proud to partner with a variety of local small businesses who are passionate about their work and committed to making a difference in the communities they serve.

If you are a small business owner please tell us about your business and how you got started. If you are not a small business owner, but plan to show your support, tell us in the comments below which small businesses you plan to visit.

Posted by: Ryan W. Jones

About the author: Ryan has been in the credit union industry for 13 years and has been with Unitus Community Credit Union since 2007. He started his credit union career in Sacramento, CA before finding his way to Oregon. In his day job Ryan oversees Unitus’ digital presence, however when the work whistle blows he is all about his family. He and his wife moved to Oregon in 2006 and have two children.