The Salt Lake Chamber is one of a dozen small business support organizations joining forces to form the Utah Small Business Coalition, which was officially launched last week. The group will work to identify current services offered to small business, create efficiency, and explore additional services the coalition can provide.

“Small business is the lifeblood of the Utah economy with approximately 700,000 Utahns employed by small businesses,” said Natalie Gochnour, chief economist of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Helping entrepreneurs start a business and helping small businesses grow is an important part of our economic recovery.”

Approximately 70 percent of the 6,100 Salt Lake Chamber member businesses are small businesses.

The Utah Small Business Coalition will provide counsel as well as a one-stop location for a listing of resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners. The coalition website, www.utahsmallbiz.com, includes an “Ask an Expert” feature that allows experts to answer questions submitted by business owners. The questions and answers will then be posted to serve as a valuable resource for others working to establish or grow their organizations.

While the Utah unemployment rate is currently about 7.4 percent, the state has seen positive job growth for the past 12 months, now growing at about 1.5 percent. The Governor’s Office of Economic Development knows small business is a key component in getting Utahns back on the job.

“We recognize the significance of any individual who is out of work and we know our job is not done until we help them,” said Spencer Eccles, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “The role of government is to prime the pump and we can do that by encouraging business growth.  Through a number of programs at GOED we help keep Utah business friendly and maintain a great quality of life.”

With those resources now in one place, small business owners and entrepreneurs can find the help they need without wasting time they don’t have.

“The resources are there when your starting your business, but finding them can take too much time when, as a business owner, you already have plenty to worry about,” said Scott Pynes, who purchased his company, Cactus and Tropicals, in 2002. “Having these resources all in one place will be very valuable as will counsel you can get from experts who have been there before.”

The Utah Small Business Coalition will meet monthly at the Salt Lake Chamber. Member associations include:

Downtown Alliance
Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Miller Business Resource Center
National Association of Women Business Owners
Salt Lake Chamber
Salt Lake City Economic Development Division
Small Business Association
Utah Small Business Development Centers
Utah State Chamber of Commerce
Utah’s Own
Vest Pocket
Women’s Business Center