Veterans Day Message
By Brian Calley
On this Veterans Day, it seems a fitting time to recognize the enormous and growing economic impact that veteran small business owners have on our country. These brave men and women serve our nation at home and abroad, each playing an important role in protecting our way of life. Upon returning home they put their tenacity, knowhow and talent to work creating opportunities in communities all across our country.
According to a 2017 report from the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are over 2.5 million businesses that are a majority veteran owned. Those businesses employ just over $5 million people and boasted sales of more than $1 trillion.
Veterans put their talents and skills to work in every industry you can imagine. The largest economic impact is in professional, scientific and technical services. These men and women are real professionals who know how to perform under pressure and at the highest of standards.
Most veteran-owned businesses are small businesses; 96.8% have fewer than 50 employees. These entrepreneurs have given so much of themselves and continue to contribute once their military service ends. We see this every single day at SBAM, and we are so proud to support their efforts to start and grow businesses in Michigan.