Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne announced the creation of the Cuyahoga County Small Business Administration on May 3, according to a news release.
The new office within the Ministry of Development will provide individualized assistance and guidance to small business owners to ensure they have the support they need to navigate the business environment, the release states.
“Small business success is essential to workforce growth and the economic sustainability of our region,” Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said in the release. “Cuyahoga County created the Small Business Administration to make it easier for small business owners to access resources and strengthen their networks.
“Our firm aims to attract more entrepreneurs to the region and take advantage of the rich opportunities in our cities and neighborhoods.”
Cuyahoga County is home to more than 30,000 small businesses, employing nearly 300,000 residents and generating nearly $18 billion in annual payroll, according to the release.
The Small Business Administration will foster connections and collaboration between businesses and various stakeholders in the county, including local chambers of commerce, trade associations and industry leaders, according to the release.
The Small Business Administration serves as a one-stop shop for business owners to expand their networks, grow their workforce, find paths to economic opportunity, seek educational services and take advantage of peer support resources.
“Within the Department of Development, we recognized a critical need for resources to be dedicated to supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs,” Deputy Director for Economic Development Vaughn Johnson said in the release. “The new Small Business Administration will actively work on strategies to improve efforts to enhance the experience of owning a small business in Cuyahoga County.”
The firm works with key organizations to connect new businesses to key resources, including capital opportunities and procurement and contracting services, the release said.