America’s future lies in the foundation and success of local business. Small business provides 85 percent of all job growth and accounts for 95 percent of all business in the nation. 

But especially now—in the wake of shutdowns and reduced operations due to the COVID-19 emergency—local business is diminishing across the nation. In addition, competition from big business, lack of supportive local business policies, economic development policies focused on big corporations, and a lack of community resource organizations make running a small local business difficult.

But with the right mix of policy, resources and education, the Local Business Institute can have a profound impact. The institute will be the only one of its kind in the nation, uniquely positioned to lead the country into the next era of small local business and sustainable communities.