Look Local First and Celebrate National Small Business Week

Greater Des Moines (DSM) is no stranger to entrepreneurial and small business ventures. Our cost of doing business is 15 percent lower than the national average and the community is supported with substantive initiatives like Look Local First that aim to empower small business owners.  

Look Local First

Each year, DSM businesses and governments spend more than $13.4 billion with out-of-area suppliers. The Look Local First campaign aims to shift this spending back to the community. Shifting just 5 percent of spending to local suppliers and vendors could generate an economic impact in excess of $1 billion.

Celebrating Small Business Week

Complimenting and celebrating initiates like Look Local First is National Small Business Week — a week recognized by the president every year since 1963. National Small Business Week is a declaration of gratitude to entrepreneurs and small business owners across the nation. With more than half of Americans owning or working for a small business, it has become the backbone of the U.S. economy.

Virtual Conference

In celebration of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration is hosting the first-ever free, three-day Virtual Conference. This is your chance to network with other business owners and to hear and share lessons learned. With no hassle of travel, participation in the conference is easier than ever. Registration is free and open to the public and there are a variety of webinars to pick and choose from. Learn how to shape a digital marketing plan with Anastasia Kudrez of Google or dive headfirst into the future of the U.S. economy with Bruce Cundiff, Vice President of Visa’s Business and Economic Insights team. The Virtual Conference offers a customizable conference experience right at your fingertips.

The event kicks off May 1 with the first of two awards ceremonies. The conference will wrap with a Twitter chat on how to start and build a business.

No matter where you are in your business development stage, National Small Business Week serves as a thank you for helping define the small business community. With that, thank you small business owners for continuing to make DSM a vibrant place to work, live and thrive.

Learn more about The Partnership’s business resources offerings, including connecting locally, globally, workplace wellness, inclusion and more on the Business Resources page.