National Small Business Week 2017

Hello, I'm Linda McMahon. Welcome to National Small Business Week and thank you for joining us in celebration of the true engines of our economy, the nation's 28 million small businesses. As administrator of the U.S. small Business Administration, I'm honored to be their advocate. National Small Business Week honors the innovators who take a risk on an idea, invest in their communities and create jobs. Their skills and creativity not only support their own families, they make our neighborhoods vibrant places to live and work, and fuel our nation's economic strength. Many of you are entrepreneurs and you probably don't ever take the time to congratulate yourself or give yourself a pat on the back. Who has the time? But you have earned our thanks and our praise. We as a nation want you to succeed because when your businesses thrive, our community thrives right along with it. Small businesses are responsible for two out of every three net new jobs in the US Each year. More than half of all Americans either work for or own a small business. As an entrepreneur myself, I feel a tremendous responsibility to each of them. Like all small business owners, I know what it's like to take a risk on an idea, manage cash flow, navigate regulations and tax laws, and create jobs. My husband and I built our business from scratch. We started out sharing a desk. I remember the early days when every month I had to decide whether I should continue to lease a typewriter or if I could finally afford to buy it. Yes, that $12 a month really made a difference in our budget. This week, we honor the entrepreneurs who make tough decisions like that every day. Sacrificing short term perks for long term gain. Investing in their futures, turning their vision into reality. We celebrate those who challenge the status quo. The risk takers and innovators who look for new ways of creating products or serving their communities. We salute the courage and persistence of those who don't always get the attention or appreciat they deserve. As I think back on my own journey as a small business owner, I wonder how much easier things might have been if we'd been aware of the many valuable services SBA provides. My hope is that as more people learn about the services SBA provides, we can continue to revitalize the spirit of entrepreneurship in our country. And more people will have the confidence, skills and resources they need to succeed as small business owners. As they succeed, our economy and our national nation succeed. And that's something all of us can celebrate.