National Small Business Week Comes to Southeast
05/01/2017

In celebration of National Small Business Week hosted by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Economic and Business Engagement Center and the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) at Southeast Missouri State University are hosting and participating in several events now through May 6. Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has issued a proclamation announcing National Small Business Week to recognize the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners. According to the SBA, more than half of Americans either own or work for a small business, and they create about two out of every three new jobs in the United States each year. “In rural southeast Missouri, 70 percent of jobs and 57 percent of regional sales are generated from businesses with an establishment size of two to 99 employees,” said Crystal Jones, director of the Economic and Business Engagement Center. “Needless to say, these businesses have a huge impact on the regional economy. The SBTDC along with other programs of the Engagement Center are here to offer support and training to those businesses to help them sustain and hopefully expand.” Each day of National Small Business Week, the Center and SBTDC will spotlight a local business owner who will share advice for other entrepreneurs. To view the spotlights, visit www.facebook.com/engagesemo. Another highlight of the week will be Small Business Appreciation Day on Friday, May 5, with the Economic and Business Engagement Center team visiting and thanking Southeast alumni who own businesses in downtown Cape Girardeau. The week will conclude on Saturday, May 6, with a celebration and grand opening of LaunchU graduate Jocelyn Anderson’s Bloom Studio & Gifts at 115 Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau. The public is invited to join the festivities scheduled from 5-8 p.m. Entrepreneurs and business owners are also encouraged to participate in free webinars hosted by the SBA throughout the week. To register for any of the webinars, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw/webinars. National Small Business Week webinar events are as follows: May 2 1-2 p.m.: “The U.S. Economic Outlook and its Impact on Small Businesses” webinar presented by Visa. 2:30-2:45 p.m.: “Meet Your Area SBA Lender” Facebook Live session with Jakob Pallesen, business counselor at SBTDC, and Josh Parham, SBA lender at The Bank of Missouri. May 3 1-2 p.m.: “Five Fabulous Habits of Local Business Champions” webinar presented by YP 3-4 p.m.: “Grow Your Business Online” webinar presented by Google. May 4 1:30-2:30 p.m.: “The Future of Small Business Innovation” webinar presented by Salesforce. 2:30-3:30 p.m.: “How to Write Your Email Content in 15 Minutes or Less” webinar presented by Constant Contact. 4-5 p.m.: “Find the Hidden Money in America” presentation by Chase. For more information about these events and other business development services offered through the Business and Economic Engagement Center, follow the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/engagesemo or visit www.engage.semo.edu.