Center for American Entrepreneurship Releases New Report on State of Small Business in Pennsylvania
One out of every 100 workers in the United States is employed by a small business in Pennsylvania and these businesses generate more than $56 billion in worker wages annually. These and other findings in The State of Small Businesses in Pennsylvania, a new report issued by the Center for American Entrepreneurship (CAE), highlight the national importance of Pennsylvania small businesses and what may be necessary to support their role in future economic development in the commonwealth.
“Repeated research has identified entrepreneurship as a critical driver of national economic success,” said John R. Dearie, president of CAE. “This in-depth study conducted by Common Good Labs focuses on Pennsylvania to show how one state’s small businesses can play an outsized role in the national landscape, and policy’s critical role in supporting these economic engines.”
CAE partnered with Common Good Labs to assess the state of small business in Pennsylvania, home to more than 176,000 independent companies employing between 1 and 49 workers. The report examines the importance and impact of small businesses across the counties of Pennsylvania, quantifies their contribution to local communities, compares Pennsylvania’s small business sector to other states, and identifies steps state and local policymakers should consider to support small businesses.
Advisory Committee
Thank you to the following small business support leaders from small business associations, entrepreneur service organizations, and foundations representing regions across the Commonwealth for their input and guidance to the study.
Oliver Beasley
Senior Director on Inclusive Growth
Allegheny Conference on Community Development
Lauren Connelly
Director
Allegheny County Economic Development
Jazmine da Costa
Program Officer
William Penn Foundation
Juan Garrett
Executive Director
Riverside Center for Innovation
D. Tyler Gourley
Executive Vice President
Henry L. Hillman Foundation
Lisa Hall-Zielinski
Director
University of Scranton SBDC
Mark Hilliard
President and CEO
Indiana County Chamber of Commerce
Brian Kelly
Associated State Director
PA SBDC Office
Pamela D. Lewis
Senior Program Officer
Henry L. Hillman Foundation
James Myers
Vice President Business Development
BEAM Collaborative
Ernie Post
State Director
PA SBDC Office
Lisa Riggs
Senior Managing Director
Team Pennsylvania
Jennifer Rodriguez
President and CEO
Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber Commerce
Blessy Thomas
Partner
Innovate Capital Growth Fund
