New Report: Small Businesses Creating Jobs, Giving Back and Growing Local Economy

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Nov 15, 2013, 11:40 ET

With Support, Small Businesses Thrive, Create, Retain 8,352 Jobs

BOSTON, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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.

"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."

Interise has been using a set of social and economic indicators to evaluate its participants since 2004, tracking and reporting its results. 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

These small business owners are graduates of the Interise StreetWise 'MBA'^™ curriculum, which is designed to grow small businesses, create jobs and revitalize local economies. The new data comes in the annual Impact Report from Interise. The curriculum is incorporated into programs in four regions of Massachusetts and through partnerships and licenses in 35 communities across the country.

Interise is one of the only nonprofits specifically dedicated to connecting established small business owners with the tools and networks needed to grow their businesses and create jobs.

The businesses reported an average of $300,000 in new financing secured after taking the program.

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

Participants praised the instructors, curriculum and the way the program allowed them to focus "on" their business rather than working "in" it.

"Throughout the program we learned to rely more on our staff and remove ourselves from day-to-day activities. This shift gave me additional time and increased capacity to lead, allowing our company to increase sales and create jobs for the local community," said Dawn Ochman, the owner of Dawn Incorporated and a 2011 graduate of Emerging Leaders, Interise's Youngstown partnership program with the Small Business Administration.

Ochman was able to grow her business from $440,000 in revenue in 2010 to $1 million in revenue in 2012 after completing the program.

Interise has helped small business owners like Don Dominguez grow his coffee roasting company to 23 employees. Dominguez, who owns K&F Coffee Roasters, graduated from the Portland program in 2009.

"For 26 years, I had been operating my company like a start-up. This program was my wake-up call," said Dominguez.

Since graduating from the program in 2009, Dominguez has grown his revenue from $3.4 million to $4.25 million

The full 2012 Impact Report can be viewed at www.interise.org/2012impact.

SOURCE Interise