Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs proclaimed the week of April 28-May 4, 2024, as “Small Business Week” in the City of Cullman.

National Small Business Week is celebrated each year by communities across the nation and by the U.S. Small Business Administration, an organization that helps power the American dream of business ownership. The week is set aside each year to officially acknowledge the critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“I am proud to proclaim ‘Small Business Week’ in Cullman,” said Mayor Jacobs. “Small businesses are crucial to Cullman’s continued growth and success, and the hard work and dedication of our small business owners are deserving of special recognition.”

According to Forbes magazine’s January 31, 2024, article titled “Small Business Statistics of 2024,” almost all businesses across the U.S. are small businesses. In fact, the article states that 33.3 million businesses in the United States qualify as small businesses, making up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. In addition, the article states that nearly half of all U.S. employees are employed by a small business. Although most small businesses operate without any staff, small businesses still employ a total of 61.6 million people nationwide – or about 45.9% of the entire U.S. workforce. Lastly, the article states that small businesses have added over 12.9 million jobs in the last 25 years and are projected to add 87,000 more jobs in 2024.

The Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, the City Economic Development Agency, and other local agencies work closely with small businesses to help ensure economic growth and improve the overall business climate. The health and success of our local small businesses is critical to ensuring our community’s economy and quality of life.

For more information on National Small Business Week, visit sba.gov.

For more information on the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce, visit cullmanchamber.org.

For more information on the City Economic Development Agency, visit cullmaneda.org.

Pictured receiving the Proclamation from Mayor Jacobs are L-R: Jennifer Branham, Noah Carpenter, Mayor Woody Jacobs, Joey Orr, Katie Walker and Brittany Branch.