Be inspired by the men and women of small business
From incubators to coworks, One Million Cups (1MC) to angel investment forums, communities throughout Iowa and across the country are eager to offer resources and services to support and encourage entrepreneurship and small business and they should. Research collected over the past two decades point to young companies as the leading job creators in the U.S. economy.
"It's a great time to be an entrepreneur in this state," said LaDene Bowen, associate director of UNI's Institute for Decision Making.
The University of Northern Iowa's Center for Business Growth and Innovation recently published the 2015 Iowa Small Business Report. This report is based on data collected from Iowa small business owners in February 2015 associated with their business activity during calendar year 2014.
Each year the Small Business Survey measures sales trends, job growth or loss, capital acquired and business use of technology among Iowa business owners with fewer than 50 employees. In addition, the survey measures specific issues, opportunities and experiences unique to doing business in Iowa.
"Most community leaders want more entrepreneurial and small business activity in their communities, but they are not sure how to support and encourage entrepreneurs," said Randy Pilkington, director of UNI's Business and Community Services.
The 2015 findings captured thousands of opinions from small companies across 92 of Iowas 99 counties, providing insight into Iowans use of Facebook to market their small business, the salaries they are paying incoming managers and what small Iowa companies think of the Iowa legislature. A summary of the survey has been published in a full color report providing business owners, community leaders and legislators a good look, both visually and in articles, about the current Iowa small business experience.
The report is available for download.