Small Businesses are the Backbone of the California Economy

by Gary Toebben

Recently, Florida Governor Rick Scott made waves when he traveled to California to poach businesses to leave the state. California Governor Brown quickly shot back that, "We're competing with nations like Brazil and France, not states like Florida." With the largest economy in the country and the 8th largest in the world according to a 2015 World Bank report, California is an ATM for political candidates and a breadbasket of great companies for governors to poach.

Readers of the “Business Perspective” know that our companies, both large and small, face major challenges with California’s business environment, including many burdensome and costly regulations and expensive housing for employees.

On the other side of the scale is our weather, our geographical amenities and our world-class higher education system that attracts top students from around the world. Our international trade and tourism sectors are at record levels, we are cultivating new and expanding technology companies, and we have made progress in bringing traditional industries like filming back home. And of course, there is the intangible optimism and entrepreneurial spirit of those risk-taking business people who have called California home since 1849. That is why 3.5 million small businesses make their home in California.

Next Tuesday, May 24, the Chamber will honor that entrepreneurial spirit with our annual Small Business Awards luncheon. Small businesses are the economic backbone of California and employ more than half of our state’s private sector workforce. The Chamber and the U.S. Small Business Administration will recognize our Small Business Person of the Year, Omar Rodriguez with X-IGENT Printing, and honor entrepreneurs in the categories of Family-Owned Business, Veteran-Owned Business, Small Business Exporter, Minority Small Business, Women in Business Champion and Innovation through Technology. You can register here to join us in the fun of saluting these local business leaders.

Growing a small business from the ground up is extremely hard work, leaving little time to advocate with government for individual business interests and a more business friendly environment. That’s where the Chamber steps in with important trips like ACCESS Sacramento, which will take place Wednesday, June 8 - Thursday, June 9. Our advocacy agenda includes support for legislation to provide certainty for job creators, investments in our transportation and goods movement systems, assisting businesses to implement the Affordable Care Act, grow L.A.'s tech eco-system and nurture a cradle to career education pipeline.

If your schedule permits, join us at the Small Business Awards Luncheon on May 24 and for ACCESS Sacramento on June 8-9.  Your support is essential and your voice is critical to grow our economy and businesses of all sizes.

And that's The Business Perspective.