Small Business

Small businesses are the economic base of the United States economy, providing two-thirds of the new jobs in America. Moreover, small business owners are the entrepreneurs and risk takers who drive innovation and new technological advancements in business, and bring new competition to the market to fill the needs of consumers.

According to the Small Business Administration’s most recent statistics, over 96.7% of all businesses in the state are small businesses. In 2002, small businesses with fewer than 500 employees numbered 31,209 and employed 301,661 individuals or 54.8 percent of the state’s non-farm private sector employees. Net job gains for firms with fewer than 20 employees totaled 3,165. John believes the most important step the federal government can take to help small businesses thrive is to write a fair and clear tax policy that does not inhibit growth and innovation. In addition, John supports regulatory reform to streamline and modernize the burdens placed on small business.


• Women-Owned Businesses

John understands the major role that women entrepreneurs play in beginning and growing businesses that provide sustainable jobs and economic growth in New Hampshire and across the nation. In 2002, women-owned firms in the state totaled 31,031, an increase of 14 percent from 1997, and generated $ 4.8 billion.

To support women in this mission, he helped to secure $75,150 in Small Business Administration (SBA) funding for the SBA’s Women’s Business Center, which is headquartered in Portsmouth, and serves women entrepreneurs in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The funding, secured in October of 2004, has helped the Center continue its program of supporting women entrepreneurs through education, counseling, and mentoring so they can learn and maintain the skills that are critical to success in today’s business environment.

The Center is one of 21 new and 49 existing centers partially funded by the SBA. The $75,150 in sustainability grant funding for Portsmouth is part of $6.8 million announced by the SBA for Women’s Business Centers across the country.

Further information regarding small business can be found on the web site of the United States Small Business Administration at: www.sba.gov