SCORE Helps Small Businesses Succeed and Fuel America's Economic Engine

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new Gallup survey shows that SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is making its mark as a catalyst for economic growth across the country.  In 2009 alone, SCORE clients started more than 68,000 new businesses, which resulted in the creation of some 30,000 jobs.

Through its free mentoring program with volunteer business experts, SCORE mentored nearly 180,000 aspiring and current small business owners in 2009.  The survey details that in 2009 SCORE clients grossed $38 billion in 2009 revenue, with an average of $314,000 per business.  These same businesses now project their 2010 growth to a cumulative revenue of $53 billion.  For every federal dollar appropriated by SCORE, clients paid $107.48 on average in federal taxes.  In addition, SCORE clients paid estimated taxes of $752,400,000 in 2009.  

"Given that small businesses are the backbone of our economy, their success is more important than ever right now," says Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE.  "This survey shows the incredible impact small businesses can have on jump-starting the economy and how Americans from diverse backgrounds can come together to help one another during these tough economic times."

SCORE along with its partner Constant Contact engaged Gallup to conduct research into the economic impact of the small business mentoring work SCORE's 13,000 volunteers had on the US economy in 2009.  Gallup conducted a census survey of all SCORE mentoring clients.  Total client revenue, business creation, and job creation numbers were calculated via straight-line extrapolation from the survey respondents to the total number of 2009 SCORE clients.

Since 2008, SCORE and Constant Contact have partnered to provide small business owners with the expert knowledge, training and resources needed to succeed and help "drive the engine" of America's economy.

About SCORE

Since 1964, SCORE has helped more than 9 million aspiring entrepreneurs. Each year, SCORE provides small business mentoring and workshops to more than 375,000 new and growing small businesses. More than 13,000 business experts volunteer as mentors in 354 chapters serving local communities with entrepreneur education to help grow 1 million small businesses. For more information about starting or operating a small business, call 1-800/634-0245 for the SCORE chapter nearest you. Visit SCORE at www.score.org and www.score.org/women. Connect with SCORE at www.facebook.com/SCOREFans, www.twitter.com/SCOREMentors and www.scorecommunity.org.

About Constant Contact, Inc.

Constant Contact's email marketing, social media marketing, event marketing, and online survey tools help small organizations grow their businesses by building stronger customer relationships. More than 400,000 small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and member associations worldwide rely on Constant Contact's easy-to-use, affordable online tools to create and deliver personalized, professional communications that engage casual customers, members, prospects, and passionate customers wherever they congregate online — from their email inboxes to their social networks. All Constant Contact products come with unmatched education, training and personal coaching services, and award-winning technical support. Founded in 1995, Constant Contact is a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: CTCT) with offices in Waltham, Mass.; Loveland, Colo.; Delray, Fla.; and, San Francisco, Calif. Learn more at www.ConstantContact.com or call 781-472-8100. 

Constant Contact and the Constant Contact Logo are registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All Constant Contact product names and other brand names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Constant Contact, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

SOURCE SCORE Association