January 2002

Saluting Small Business Entrepreneurs

Small business is sizzling in Cortland County. These stories profiles just some of the many people -- from Main Street merchants to manufacturing entrepreneurs -- who are making interesting moves in Cortland. For each person or company we selected, we could have easily picked a dozen more. That's because small businesses are an important part of the economic landscape here and they have been growing at a very healthy pace. Active business associations in Cortland, Homer and Marathon have created an esprit de corps where companies brainstorm new ideas, showcase their products, expand their markets, work on cooperative advertising and sponsor events that make their business communities vibrant places to be. The Cortland Business Network, a CEO-level group of top employers, has also been a catalyst for creating an overall business climate that encourages growth across every level and sector of the economy.

Evidence of that entrepreneurial attitude is reflected in the numbers. SBA small business activity tripled last year in Cortland -- growing from $2 million to $6.3 million. Cortland now leads the ten-county Southern Tier region for SBA small business activity. Pretty impressive.

In our on-line newsletter you'll find stories on agri-researchers, cable makers, cookie bakers, dairy farmers, e-entrepreneurs, homebuilders, restaurateurs, road scholars, sportswear wizards and more. There are interesting themes that echo through the stories. Many are family businesses. Some are new generations continuing, or restarting, a family legacy. They all involve creative risk taking. Their success turns on that time-honored formula of equal parts inspiration and perspiration. They're just a slice of the robust small business base that is Cortland County. And, with nearly 1,000 small businesses here, they and their fellow entrepreneurs are the drivers of our economy.

Economic development is often thought of as a game of big wins, but both the national and regional economy is increasingly being driven by small and mid-sized businesses. Of the thousands of firms with operations in the Central New York - Finger Lakes region, less than 10% have more than 100 employees. These small businesses who comprise more than 90% of the region's employers are the single largest creators of new jobs in the economy.

A good business development policy balances attraction, retention and expansion efforts with the goal of developing a diversified economic base. While the BDC works to sell Cortland to people and companies outside of the region as a great place to live and work, we're also focused on reaching into our own community to help businesses who are already invested here to flourish. To do that, we have some great partners who are also profiled in this newsletter. The SBA, SBDC, NYBDC and ESD are part of our team., and we've put together a one-step approach to business planning and financing that is a model for other areas to emulate. Our new Empire Zone also offers even more tools and resources for small businesses, providing incentives for both investment and job creation.

A great business climate makes for great results. We invite you to give us a call and learn more about the supportive environment Cortland offers small business entrepreneurs. See for yourself ... we're sizzling!