It is safe to assume that most of the people who read this article will find the following information astonishing, yet frightening. All of the featured information comes from the Federal Small Business Administration (SBA), specifically the Office of Advocacy and their annual Small Business Profile reports.

Believe it or not, but before the lockdowns last year, nearly 45,000 new jobs were created in 2020 by small business owners in Ohio. What does this mean? 1) If covid had never happened, small businesses would have smashed previous years’ records. 2) But because covid did happen, small businesses were hurt just as bad as larger corporate America. And 3) There is no shortage of reasons to be optimistic about the future.

Look at the amount of small business growth in Ohio compared to the national average. 2018 was a fantastic year for Ohio compared to the rest of the country, growing nearly 4%. But then in 2019 it slipped, with growth below 3%. In 2020, overall growth fell below 2%.

At this point, I should note that I’m not an economist. Nor have I even graduated high school. But, to my untrained eyes, the economy isn’t doing well if you just look at these trends alone. But there’s another side to the story.

Now let’s look at West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In the same period of time, 2018 to 2020, Ohio actually comes out ahead, all three years, against both states. Something seems to be different about Ohio than its neighbor states. 

Contrary to what one might expect, we are already seeing signs of growth in our local businesses, but that alone isn’t enough to make me optimistic. Heres what does: over 99% of all businesses, in all three states, are small businesses. I would never have expected this number to be so astronomically high. Small businesses are, by every metric available, the most substantial part of our economy. A cornerstone as large as 99% of anything cannot simply be ignored. 

So looking forward into 2022 and beyond, small businesses should be overly enthusiastic. Nearly all of the coming economic benefits, in one way or another, will touch those who work at or own a small business. 

I’m not an optimistic person by nature, but the future of small businesses looks brighter than ever. As we move beyond 2020 and all of its struggles, I believe there is a light at the end of this tunnel. 

I’ve personally noticed a positive resurgence in people’s attitudes toward locally owned businesses. On more than one occasion I’ve heard someone say, “I’ve started shopping at x because I want to support my community”. Personally, I’ve certainly been paying attention to the places I patron. Instead of going to Taco Bell, I choose El Paso. Instead of getting coffee at McDonald’s, I choose Green Marble. These small decisions have economic impacts far greater than one could imagine.

So in conclusion, as a young adult living in the tristate are of Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, I am optimistic about the days ahead. And you should be too.