Suzanne P. Clark, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, spoke Thursday on “The State of American Business,” where she highlighted the local impact and importance of businesses. small businesses.

According to a report released by the Chamber last year, small businesses are responsible for employing nearly half of the American workforce and driving about 43.5% of the US gross domestic product (GDP). Clark's speech highlighted the importance of small businesses, including franchises, which some may not consider small businesses. local economies.

“The State of American Business is local because businesses serve people where they are. If you think about it, that makes all business local,” Clark said. “This is certainly true for the small businesses that line Main Streets and the locally headquartered businesses that employ hundreds, if not thousands, of people in the community and drive its economic ecosystem.”

“The same goes for the national restaurant chain where you had your first job. The technology company that makes the equipment and the Internet service provider that lets you work together from your kitchen table or home office. The energy producers that power your cars. So you can finance the business in your basement.” you can run institutions,” Clark said.

'BIDENOMICS' UNDER FIRE: Despite GDP growth, small business incomes are falling

In her speech, Suzanne Clark, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the importance of small businesses and the local impact of all businesses. (David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Wherever a company, service, product or solution originates, its impact is always local. Because where we live our lives is local,” he added.

The president and executive director of the chamber also discussed its importance global trade to small, local businesses as well as the US economy as a whole.

“America must participate in the global economy to increase economic growth,” Clark said. “There are opportunities to increase trade, which already supports 40 million US jobs and makes the goods and services we all need more affordable to expand exports and enable small businesses to access global markets and welcome imports. increase consumer choice and prices should be kept low.”

SMALL BUSINESS OPTIMISM DRIVES TO 6-YEAR HIGH AFTER TRUMP'S VICTORY

A Chamber of Commerce report last year noted that small businesses employ nearly half of America's workers. (Boston Globe via Lane Turner/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Clark spoke in Dallas, Texas and noted that Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex shares some common features with other economically vibrant regions of the country.

These characteristics include a diverse industrial base, low unemployment and a deep talent pool, as well as “a healthy mix of small businesses – serving and enriching their communities, and large businesses – providing jobs, economic activity and tax revenue,” plus infrastructure, access to global markets and an innovation ecosystem.

SMALL BUSINESSES STILL STRUGGLE: 'YET TO BRING HOME A DOLLAR'

Clark spoke from Dallas, Texas, and highlighted the attributes that make the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex an economic powerhouse. (Kirby Lee/Getty Images/Getty Images)

He noted that while many communities will not experience this level of growth, the U.S. must strive to ensure that communities are not left behind economically, and this depends on ensuring a favorable environment for trade.

“We all know there are a lot of places, a lot of communities that don't feel the energy, that don't see the growth,” Clark said. “We need to be a nation where local communities are not left behind. Where there are no food deserts, where crime does not crowd out commerce, where private investment is welcomed, where young people want to stay and come back and build businesses and careers. , where people can move forward and provide for their families.”

GET THE FOX BUSINESS BY CLICKING HERE

“Every community can't, shouldn't or won't want to be the next booming metropolis, but they all want the economic opportunity that delivers the quality of life and the promise of opportunity that all Americans desire,” he said.