Celebrating Small Business

This week is National Small Business week, and that means it's time to celebrate America's job creators. To highlight the importance of the small business sector in America, the NFIB Research Foundation compiled a list of facts and figures that indicate exactly how much small businesses have done for their communities, employees and local economies. Here are a few highlights:

• 91 percent of small business owners contributed to their community in the last year through volunteering, in-kind contributions, and/or direct cash donations. About 41 percent contributed all three ways.
• Small firms provide the first job for most entrants to the labor force. Many of the skills learned in these first jobs, such as showing up on time, learning respect for owners and customers, and learning how to get along with co-workers, last a lifetime.
• Small businesses have developed a significant number of this nation's most important inventions and innovations, such as heart valves and the airplane. Small firms are twice as innovative per employee as larger firms.

To view the complete report, check out this article in the "Issues in the News" section on NFIB.com--and don't forget to thank a small business owner this week.