The Small Business Center at Davidson County Community College will celebrate National Small Business Week on May 5-11.

Every year since 1963, the president has issued a proclamation of National Small Business Week that recognizes the contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.

“We enjoy celebrating small businesses year round, yet May is a special time to create a real buzz around the wonderful impact the small businesses have in our community,” said Martha Larson, director of Davidson’s Small Business Center.

The Davidson center offers seminars, consultations and resources throughout the year to support small businesses in the area. The 2019 Launch Davidson County is one recent program that trained small business owners in the early stages of development how to align themselves for sustainable success.

“The whole experience has been invaluable,” said Chad Zimmer, owner of KingFisher Metalworks LLC. “The information that has been covered is great, but the real power for me has been the direction to think about who you are and then weave that answer into a story that captures the attention of your customers.”

Upcoming Small Business Center programs include “How to Start a Business: The Process” on May 8, “Financing Your Business” on May 9, and “Business Development: Strategies for a Powerful You” on May 17.

The U.S. Small Business Administration uses Small Business Week to highlight the impact of entrepreneurs, small business owners, and others from all 50 states and U.S. territories. The administration is dedicated to growing small businesses, creating 21st-century jobs, driving innovation and increasing America’s global competitiveness.

More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. Small businesses also create about two out of every three new jobs in the U.S. each year.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that more than 50 percent of the working population works at a small business, defined by the Small Business Administration as one with 500 or fewer employees. Small businesses have generated more than 65 percent of new jobs since 1995.