Since 1963, each year the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. This year, National Small Business Week is May 16-20.
The U.S. Small Business Administration estimates that there are 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are the backbone to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. Small businesses also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.
As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration annually recognizes the significant impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. This year, the nation’s top entrepreneurs will be honored at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week events May 18-20 in Washington, D.C. Under the theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs,” a series of events and educational forums will mark the 58th anniversary of the agency and the 48th annual proclamation of National Small Business Week.
More than 100 outstanding small business owners from across the country will receive awards. The reciipients will meet with top administration officials, congressional representatives and national business leaders. The highlight of the celebration will be the announcement of the National Small Business Person of the Year.
The State Small Business award winners and recipients of the Champion and other Entrepreneurial awards are nominated by local trade associations, chambers of commerce and business organizations and government agencies.
For more information, visit www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Is Sears Headquarters Leaving Illinois?
The Daily Herald reported today that Sears Holdings Corp. is considering moving its corporate headquarters from northwest suburban Hoffman Estates to a new out of state location. According to the Daily Herald, Sears has been in discussions with North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and New Jersey.
"We do owe it to our associates and shareholders to consider options and alternatives and intend to be very throughtful and thorough in our deliberations," a Sears spokesman told the Daily Herald. "It is still very early in the process."
The Daily Herald also reports that as part of that process, Sears commissioned an economic impact study that concluded the company's departure could send shock waves through the suburbs, with the potential loss of about 6,000 Sears employees and another 9,000 ancillary jobs with nearby businesses, vendors and contractors.
In connection with its move from downtown Chicago twenty two years ago, Sears received both state and local incentives which are set to expire in 2012. A bill introduced in Springfield by state Rep. Fred Crespo, a former Hoffman Estates village board member, would continue property tax breaks for Sears for another 15 years in an effort to keep the company in Hoffman Estates, the Daily Herald reported.
The Sears report comes just days after Crain's Chicago Business disclosed that another major corporate employer in Hoffman Estates, AT&T Inc., has put its 1.5-million-square-foot campus on the market.
"We do owe it to our associates and shareholders to consider options and alternatives and intend to be very throughtful and thorough in our deliberations," a Sears spokesman told the Daily Herald. "It is still very early in the process."
The Daily Herald also reports that as part of that process, Sears commissioned an economic impact study that concluded the company's departure could send shock waves through the suburbs, with the potential loss of about 6,000 Sears employees and another 9,000 ancillary jobs with nearby businesses, vendors and contractors.
In connection with its move from downtown Chicago twenty two years ago, Sears received both state and local incentives which are set to expire in 2012. A bill introduced in Springfield by state Rep. Fred Crespo, a former Hoffman Estates village board member, would continue property tax breaks for Sears for another 15 years in an effort to keep the company in Hoffman Estates, the Daily Herald reported.
The Sears report comes just days after Crain's Chicago Business disclosed that another major corporate employer in Hoffman Estates, AT&T Inc., has put its 1.5-million-square-foot campus on the market.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Discount Chain Five Below Bursts on the Scene with 10 New Stores in Chicagoland
Five Below, a leading retailer of extreme-value merchandise for teens and pre-teens, stormed into the Chicago market with the grand opening of its first 10 stores in the region on Friday, May 6, 2011. The simultaneous debut of these 10 Chicago area stores represents the biggest one-day push into a new market in company history.
Five Below offers thousands of brand-name items and all the latest trends for teens, preteens and everyone in between at ultra low prices. All merchandise, including fashion accessories, DVDs and video games, sports equipment, home décor, toys, games and more, is priced at $5 or less.
Five Below has announced plans to open an additional 10 stores in Greater Chicago later this summer, bringing its total in the Chicagoland area to as many as 20 by year-end. Over the next few years, Five Below intends expand its presence in the Chicago area to include as many as 75 stores.
Five Below’s 10 new stores opening on May 6 are located in Chicago, Bradley, Crystal Lake, Countryside, Geneva, Joliet, Orland Hills, Rockford, and Vernon Hills, Illinois and in Merrillville, Indiana. To celebrate the grand openings, each store is giving free Five Below t-shirts with any purchase to the first 300 customers each day during opening weekend, five-cent hot dogs, and other prizes, including a $100 Five Below shopping spree.
Five Below offers thousands of brand-name items and all the latest trends for teens, preteens and everyone in between at ultra low prices. All merchandise, including fashion accessories, DVDs and video games, sports equipment, home décor, toys, games and more, is priced at $5 or less.
Five Below has announced plans to open an additional 10 stores in Greater Chicago later this summer, bringing its total in the Chicagoland area to as many as 20 by year-end. Over the next few years, Five Below intends expand its presence in the Chicago area to include as many as 75 stores.
Five Below’s 10 new stores opening on May 6 are located in Chicago, Bradley, Crystal Lake, Countryside, Geneva, Joliet, Orland Hills, Rockford, and Vernon Hills, Illinois and in Merrillville, Indiana. To celebrate the grand openings, each store is giving free Five Below t-shirts with any purchase to the first 300 customers each day during opening weekend, five-cent hot dogs, and other prizes, including a $100 Five Below shopping spree.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Motorola Solutions, Inc. Elects Brown Chairman
Motorola Solutions, Inc. announced Tuesday that CEO Greg Brown has been elected by its board of directors to the added role of chairman. Brown replaces Dave Dorman, who has been elected as lead independent director of the board.
“I want to thank Dave for his service to Motorola as its chairman over the past 3 years and, in particular, his leadership and guidance as Motorola planned and executed its successful separation into two companies,” Brown said. “I look forward to working with him in his role of lead independent director as we continue to build and grow our company.”
Said Dorman: “I am honored to have been chairman of Motorola, and Greg has my full support in his new role as he guides this company to greater success.”
Brown joined Motorola in 2003 and was elected to the company's board of directors in 2007. He became president and CEO of Motorola in January 2008. Since that time, he has served as CEO or co-CEO of Motorola. In addition to his responsibilities at Motorola Solutions, Brown is an active member of the civic and business communities. He recently was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Management Advisory Board. He is a member of the Business Council, Business Roundtable, Technology CEO Council, Commercial Club of Chicago and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital board. He is also on the executive committee of the US-China Business Council (USCBC).
Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers.
“I want to thank Dave for his service to Motorola as its chairman over the past 3 years and, in particular, his leadership and guidance as Motorola planned and executed its successful separation into two companies,” Brown said. “I look forward to working with him in his role of lead independent director as we continue to build and grow our company.”
Said Dorman: “I am honored to have been chairman of Motorola, and Greg has my full support in his new role as he guides this company to greater success.”
Brown joined Motorola in 2003 and was elected to the company's board of directors in 2007. He became president and CEO of Motorola in January 2008. Since that time, he has served as CEO or co-CEO of Motorola. In addition to his responsibilities at Motorola Solutions, Brown is an active member of the civic and business communities. He recently was appointed by President Obama to the President’s Management Advisory Board. He is a member of the Business Council, Business Roundtable, Technology CEO Council, Commercial Club of Chicago and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital board. He is also on the executive committee of the US-China Business Council (USCBC).
Motorola Solutions is a leading provider of mission-critical communication products and services for enterprise and government customers.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
DealADayOnline Acquired by BuyWithMe
Chicago-based DealADayOnline, a group buying and social commerce company focused on the Chicago marketplace, has been acquired by BuyWithMe (http://www.buywithme.com/). This acquisition further expands BuyWithMe’s rapidly growing footprint in the Chicago marketplace and across the United States. BuyWithMe currently offers high-quality daily deals in 13 of the largest cities in the U.S. (Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.) and is expected to double that footprint over the course of 2011.
“We are expanding rapidly in Chicago and our acquisition of DealADayOnline is a logical extension of that," said Jim Crowley, CEO of BuyWithMe, Inc. "DealADayOnline allows us to better meet the needs of our growing customer and merchant partners in the areas. We are delighted to welcome the DealADayOnline consumer and merchant community to the BuyWithMe family. We are also excited to help Chicagoans better discover and enjoy the many activities, destinations and experiences that are made possible by their local merchants."
“We’re very excited to join the BuyWithMe team. We pride ourselves on delivering a positive experience for merchants and consumers alike and those values are fully shared by BuyWithMe,” said Melissa Newman, CEO of DealADayOnline. “BuyWithMe is a clear and rapidly growing leader in this space, and our merchants and members will benefit from being a part of BuyWithMe’s larger community and capabilities which further accelerates our expansion in Chicago."
“We are expanding rapidly in Chicago and our acquisition of DealADayOnline is a logical extension of that," said Jim Crowley, CEO of BuyWithMe, Inc. "DealADayOnline allows us to better meet the needs of our growing customer and merchant partners in the areas. We are delighted to welcome the DealADayOnline consumer and merchant community to the BuyWithMe family. We are also excited to help Chicagoans better discover and enjoy the many activities, destinations and experiences that are made possible by their local merchants."
“We’re very excited to join the BuyWithMe team. We pride ourselves on delivering a positive experience for merchants and consumers alike and those values are fully shared by BuyWithMe,” said Melissa Newman, CEO of DealADayOnline. “BuyWithMe is a clear and rapidly growing leader in this space, and our merchants and members will benefit from being a part of BuyWithMe’s larger community and capabilities which further accelerates our expansion in Chicago."