Small Businesses Creating Jobs, Giving Back and Growing Local Economy [Report]

Business owners around the country who took part in an award-winning program designed to bring small businesses to the next level reported creating and retaining 8,352 net new jobs at a rate of three times that of the private sector, according to a new report.

The Interise survey of small business owners shows 73 percent of companies which took part in the program added or preserved all jobs with a $700,000 average increase in annual company revenues.

Ninety-two percent of Interise’s participants are people of color, women, immigrants, or are operating businesses in lower-income communities, the survey found.

Among the key findings of the 2012 Impact Report were:

Job Creation

• 8,352 jobs were created/ retained
• 73% — Companies added/preserved all jobs
• $46,000 average salary of new employees hired

Growing Businesses

• 65% – Companies with revenue increase
• $700,000 — per year average increase in revenue
• $2 million — average value of new government contracts

Building Communities

• 72% – Found the connections they made through the program helpful in growing their business
• 84% – Encourage employees to be active community
• 93% – Highly recommend Interise

“Our numbers show that by providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, they will grow their small business, create jobs and give back to help grow their local economy,” said Interise’s CEO Jean Horstman. “We are proud of the successes we are continuing to see in our programs across the country.”