Austin Climbs List to Become #1 for Small Business

Austin, TX - The City of Austin has been ranked as the #1 place in the United States to open a small business by Portfolio.com. Austin advanced from its 2009 rating of fourth on the list to first in 2010. Austin has established a growing niche market with small businesses. We feel fortunate to have a supportive Council and City Management that has encouraged our Small Business Development Program to create a myriad of tool box services for start-up businesses or local entrepreneurs wanting to expand," said Rosalinda Jalifi, Assistant Director of the Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office at the City of Austin.

Austin’s population of 1.7 million residents is also home to over 38,602 small businesses. According to Portfolio.com, Austin’s 19.5% population growth between 2003 and 2008 attributed to the region’s ability to weather the recent national economic storm. The number of small businesses started up between 2006 and 2007 outpaced other metropolitan areas with a 5.6 percent increase.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana ranked second this year, due to an increase of 3.9% growth in numbers of small businesses, close to three times the national growth rate. Coming in third in the rankings is Raleigh, North Carolina, which fell from last year’s first place. While Raleigh still has an impressive 22.5 percent population growth, it did not match Austin’s pace in growth rate for jobs or small business.

The City of Austin’s Small Business Development Program (SBDP) offers resources and services that gird entrepreneurs with solid start up skills and existing business owners with the information and tools necessary to maintain or expand their businesses. For more information on the Portfolio.com article, please visit www.portfolio.com

Top 3 Reasons Austin is Tops for Small Business:

1. Small Business is Big Business in Austin: 94% percent of Austin’s small business companies employ 50 or fewer employees – nationally the number is 86%

2. Business Education and Technical Assistance: From business plans to business expansion – the City’s Small Business Development Program provides resources, services, consulting and classes to prospective business owners. Use of SBDP’s services continues to grow! In 2009 the Business Solutions Center saw over 4,500 visitors, SBDP tallied more than 2,600 training hours and over 1,700 technical assistance hours offered through BizAid.

3. Special Events Meet Small Business Needs: Access to information and capital are the top two needs of local small business owners. The City’s Small Business Development Program helps meet those needs with two annual events – Getting Connected and Meet the Lender. Getting Connected links small business owners to non-profits, networking organizations and government programs geared to help entrepreneurs. Meet the Lender opens the door for small business owners to meet local small business-friendly lenders in a casual, non-intimidating setting.

The SBDP, a division of the City’s Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services Office, is committed to providing opportunities and resources to small businesses to help them grow and prosper in a competitive business environment. For more information about SBDP’s resources and services, please call 512-974-7800 or visit www.austinsmallbiz.org.