May 10 is National Small Business Day, a celebration of the small businesses that play a key role in their local communities.
There are more than 33 million small businesses in the United States, making up 99.9% of all businesses in the country. Many cities have Small Business Development Centers to provide free assistance and resources to small businesses.
SBDCs are hosted by leading universities, colleges, state economic development agencies and private partners, and funded in part by the United States Congress through a partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The organization’s website can help you find a local SBDC, but the Yonkers Public Library is also a great resource for your small business.
If you’re looking to support small businesses, start by shopping small! Try finding some boutiques, restaurants and other local shops near you to do your shopping rather than ordering online or purchasing products from more “big box” stores.
If you’re a small business owner or you’re looking to start one of your own, the Yonkers Public Library is a great place to start! Check out our catalog online to check out a wide variety of books to help you on your small business journey. Be sure to ask a librarian to help point you in the right direction.
If you’re looking to sharpen your own skill set, be sure to check out Gale Courses, an online learning platform featuring over 360 instructor-led courses, mostly on professional development, software instruction, and vocational education subjects. You can learn more about the platform, available for free with your Yonkers Public Library card, here.