Connecting People in the RNR - Who Creates Jobs?
Handshake 2.0 brings you edition #39 of Connecting People in the RNR with Stuart Mease.
Stuart Mease shares a video version of Who's willing to do what it takes?, a guest column he wrote for The Roanoke Times.
"RNR" refers to the Roanoke and New River Valleys of Virginia.
Connecting People in the RNR
a video show by Stuart Mease for Handshake 2.0
The opinions expressed by Stuart Mease or by those he interviews are solely their own. They are not necessarily shared by Handshake 2.0 or its clients, sponsors, or advertisers, or by Stuart Mease's employer.
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Stuart Mease is Recruiting Manager for Rackspace Email and Apps which sponsors the Rackspace Tech Showcase on Handshake 2.0.
Stuart writes the blog Connecting People. You can connect with Stuart in myriad ways both off-line and online, including on Twitter @stuartmease. Stuart Mease is an organizer of the Roanoke Creative Communities Leadership Project (CCLP) in Virginia. You can follow the program on Twitter @roanokecreative. Stuart Mease was a finalist for the NCTC NewVa Leadership Award 2009.
We consider Stuart Mease a thought leader and are honored he shares his views with Handshake 2.0.
Awesome Stuart.
Welcome to the private sector...
Your comments about successful businesses and jobs are right on target. In fact, most jobs in the RNR are with local "homegrown" successful businesses (54%). Taking it even further...small homegrown businesses (<100 employees) are responsible for twice the number of new jobs than nonresident businesses (HQ out of state).
Keep up the good work!
Sam
Posted by: Sam English | September 16, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Sam, are you referring to "high-impact companies" as Jim Flowers defines here?
http://www.handshake20.com/2009/07/growing-a-regional-economy-one-small-company-at-a-time.html
Finding common terms and common supporting data is a real challenge communication about what we're doing and why. Any clarification you could offer would be welcome!
Thanks, as always, for the generous contribution of your expertise to our conversations!
Posted by: Anne Clelland | September 17, 2009 at 09:18 AM
Hi Anne,
Yes and No. The high-impact companies that Jim references from the SBA analysis are only high growth companies (defined as doubling sales in a 4 yr period & “high” employment growth). The small homegrown businesses that I am describing include the high-impacts from the SBA data but also include slower growing businesses. The high-impacts do have significant effects, but small homegrown businesses (<100 employees) dominate the economic landscape through their sheer numbers.
In our region (RNR), there are ~20,000 homegrown businesses (not a branch of an out-of-state company) with less than 100 employees. Those small businesses employ ~106,000 people (almost ½ of all jobs in the region). So, my point is that small homegrown businesses (both high-impact and non) are the backbone of jobs in our region.
Take away messages:
1. Homegrown businesses (all sizes) are responsible for most jobs- 54% of all RNR jobs
2. Small homegrown businesses (<100 employees) are responsible for 43% of all RNR jobs
3. There are more jobs in the RNR from homegrown businesses than noncommercial (non-profit & government) and non-local businesses (HQ out-of-state) combined
4. And if we look at job growth over the last 14 years (1993 – 2007, the most recent data available) these small homegrown businesses are responsible for twice the number of new jobs than non-local businesses (HQ out-of-state)
The data I have analyzed is from the Lowe Foundation (youreconomy.org).
Hope this helps clarify and also enlightens your readers.
Best regards,
Sam
Posted by: Sam English | September 17, 2009 at 03:23 PM