Every year since 1963, the President has proclaimed a National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions that small businesses play in creating an economy built to last.  As a former small business owner, I know firsthand that small businesses drive our economy, and I am proud to join workers and employers across the country in celebrating National Small Business Week.

There are 28 million small businesses in the U.S., and small businesses create two out of every three jobs in our country. Half the people who work in America either own or work for a small business.

In Texas alone, there are 2.2 million small businesses, and more than 98.7% of employers in our state qualify as a small business by having fewer than 500 employees.

I will be marking National Small Business Week by traveling throughout the district to attend “Meet the Buyer” events in Mission, San Antonio and Laredo to talk to local businesses about government contracting opportunities for small and medium size businesses and offer tips about how they can create successful connections with agencies.  I also made a stop today at the Floresville Chamber of Commerce for a conversation about how the work I’m doing in Congress supports our local economy.   

Of course, it’s important to consider the needs of small businesses all 52 weeks each year.  Next week, I will be holding a videoconference to make sure constituents are informed about the many federal resources available to small businesses.  The videoconference will be broadcast at locations across the district and will connect representatives from the Small Business Administration, Minority Business Development Agency, Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor with South Texas business owners.  For more information about this opportunity to learn about programs and incentives for small businesses, please call my office at 1 (877) 780-0028.

To everyone operating or working at a small business, thank you for all that you do for our country.  Know that you can continue to count on me to be an advocate for the small business community.