Small Business Week: May 4-10

Small businesses power our economy. They represent 99.9 percent of all U.S. firms and provide nearly half of the jobs in the private sector. In 2024, more than 34.7 million small businesses employed about 59 million people and accounted for 43.5 percent of our nation’s GDP​. Here in Tennessee, 664,681 small businesses support 41.9 percent of the workforce, which means over 1.2 million Tennesseans rely on these companies for their livelihood​. From the independent shops along Jefferson Street to the tech start-ups emerging in The Gulch, these enterprises spark fresh ideas and sustain the unique energy of our city.

Local small firms do more than create jobs. They reinvest their earnings in our neighborhoods, sponsor schools and community groups, and give each part of Nashville its own character. The Nashville metropolitan area supports 1.24 million jobs, with nearly half located in Davidson County​. Our county’s unemployment rate is just 2.9 percent, in large part because our small-business community adapts quickly when economic conditions change​. Over the past year, Tennessee’s small businesses generated 72 percent of the state’s net new jobs, proof of their resilience and creativity​.

During Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration rolls out a variety of workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on raising capital, strengthening online marketing, and finding experienced mentors. Whether you are opening a storefront on Charlotte Avenue or expanding an established operation in Antioch, utilize these resources and support small.

View a list of some of Small Business Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce members you can support this week: