More than just the fuel of local economies, they’re also deeply involved in their communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tony Malandra, Senior Media Manager, anthony.malandra@nfib.org

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 20, 2024—Their importance to the economies of Utah’s cities and towns are praiseworthy enough, but a new report issued this week by the nation’s largest small business association showed how much deeper the involvement of Main Street entrepreneurs goes in their communities.

“Small businesses contribute to the community in a variety of ways including donating time, financial support, and making in-kind contributions in addition to providing jobs,” said Holly Wade, executive director for the Research Center of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). “This report offers unique insight into the ways in which small businesses and their employees benefit local communities across the country, beyond operating their business. Despite facing economic challenges, small businesses are working hard to shape and enrich their communities.”

According to the nationwide report:

• “About three-quarters (76 percent) of all small business owners reported volunteering their time to work on behalf of civic groups, charities, youth sports programs, schools, religious organizations, or similar activities in the last 12 months.

• “Financial support was the most common method small businesses used to support their communities … Ninety percent of small business owners have financially supported community or civic groups, charities, youth sports programs, schools, religious organization, or similar activities in the last 12 months.

• “Sixty-three percent of small business owners reported providing in-kind contributions … (e.g., providing a meetings space for a local fundraiser, donating excess inventory for a cause, offering auction items to raise money, etc.).”

The report also looked at the groups of activities small businesses are part of. The report is a national snapshot of NFIB-member, small-business owners not broken down by state. The typical NFIB member employs between one and nine people and reports gross sales of about $500,000 a year. 

This Small Business Saturday, coming up November 30, would be a great time to show a small bit of appreciation for the work small business owners put into making their communities better places for all of us—work that big box retailers and online commerce sites don’t even begin to match.

Keep up with the latest Utah small-business news at www.nfib.com/utah. Follow us on X at @NFIB_UT.

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For 80 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven association. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com. 

NFIB Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
317-638-4447
www.nfib.com/utah