White House Appointee to Highlight Key Role of
Small Businesses in Region’s Economy and International Trade
Cleveland, OH, March 26, 2019 – The Council of the Great Lakes Region is pleased to announce Robert Scott, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Great Lakes regional administrator, will deliver remarks at the Great Lakes Economic Forum in Cleveland on Tuesday, May 7. Scott will discuss the significant role small firms play in the revitalization of the Great Lakes economy and creating jobs, as well as the importance of supporting small business growth, innovation and export readiness.
“The binational Great Lakes Region, shared by eight states and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, is North America’s economic engine and one the world’s most successful economic regions. In fact, if it were a country, this region would represent the third largest economy in the world,” the Council of the Great Lakes Region’s President and CEO Mark Fisher said. “Rob’s insight as to the concerns of area small businesses, the SBA’s resources and the Trump Administration’s efforts to create a move favorable business climate will be highly beneficial for the attendees.”
According to the most recent data, nearly 7.6 million small businesses across the eight Great Lakes states, from New York to Minnesota, employ 17 million people (more than 47 percent of the states’ total employees). The eight states combined had approximately $112 billion in exports to Canada in 2017, and of all the companies in the region that export, approximately 88 percent are small firms. Canada, particularly the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, is the top export destination for most U.S. small businesses in the Great Lakes region.
“I look forward to highlighting how regulatory reform, tax cuts and other pro-growth policies including rural economic development and lending, are making the small business environment more conducive for investment and expansion,” Scott said. “Via our common goal to support the region’s success, including with innovation, entrepreneurial training and trade with Canada and the larger global economic marketplace, we can sustain and further generate economic growth throughout the Great Lakes.”
The Forum is the foremost gathering of leaders from all levels of government, business, academia, and the non-profit sectors who are committed to strengthening the region’s long-term sustainability and the competitiveness of its businesses and industries. To register or learn more about exhibiting your business, chamber of commerce or economic development organization, visit http://greatlakeseconomicforum.com. Use promo code SmallBiz2019 to receive 30% off all categories of registration. Media can contact caterina@managingmatters.com for accreditation.
The Council of the Great Lakes was established in 2013. A binational, non-partisan, member-driven organization, the Council was launched to create a stronger and more dynamic culture of collaboration between the United States and Canada in the Great Lakes Region in harnessing the region’s economic strengths and assets, improving the well-being and prosperity of the region’s citizens, and protecting the environment for future generations.
For more information, contact:
Mark Fisher
President and CEO
Council of the Great Lakes Region
613-668-2044 / mark@councilgreatlakesregion.org
Andrea Roebker
Regional Communications Director
SBA Great Lakes Region
312-353-7327 / Andrea.Roebker@sba.gov
