Small Businesses Create Economic Impact in South Central Pennsylvania
Part of York’s explosive growth in the last several years has been due to its local small businesses. From award-winning coffee shops like Belmont Bean Co. to renowned snack companies such as Martin’s Potato Chips or Snyder’s of Hanover, there are a variety of businesses rooted deep in York’s development over time.
“Small businesses make up almost 100% of businesses in America, and [they] employ over half of the workforce. Their impact isn’t much different in York,” says Oscar Winters, Executive Director of York College of Pennsylvania’s J.D. Brown Center for Entrepreneurship.
“We have seven different companies here now in industries ranging from chemistry to 3D printing to AI development … these small businesses create real, impactful jobs for students and community members, [who] often work together to help each other solve problems, resulting in more growth and more opportunities.”
Small Business Solutions for Community Challenges
York’s small businesses helped grow the region into a hub of culture, commerce, and community, and South Central Pennsylvania has become a hotbed of innovation. The entrepreneurial impact driving the community is immeasurable, with opportunities leading to numerous small business success stories — these efforts are just getting started.
Local businesses are now at the center of York’s community development. When small businesses thrive, the city and county thrive. People in the area depend on them to provide goods and services, and in turn, the community supports their growth.
Welcoming and Developing a Community
As York businesses continue to grow, a community-centric approach empowers local businesses to flourish and extends a hand to those looking for a home for their dreams.
The City of York is now looking forward as it prepares for its 2044 Comprehensive Plan, which seeks to broadly improve living conditions in the community and relieve stressors often put on the shoulders of York’s population. This plan will be driven by local entrepreneurs and community leaders, all working toward growing the city’s vision and achieving the potential its people are brimming with.
“Organizations like the York County Economic Alliance, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and even [our] role here at the J.D. Brown Center have made it their mission to support small businesses in order to create jobs, grow the economic sustainability of the region, and create an inviting area to live and work,” says Winters.
Starting a business in York grows more possible every day. The region’s network of opportunities for locals acts as a gateway into the future, helping to achieve the city’s countless capabilities.
The City is already accomplished in the entrepreneurial space, being the first-ever KIVA Hub in its region. Kiva York is a partnership that brings the international crowd-lending site’s crowd-funded micro-loans to the people of York, providing zero-interest loans up to $10,000 for small businesses. It works to give local entrepreneurs access to greater capital that they otherwise may have been excluded from, with the goal of spurring economic growth and creating more jobs within the region.
Local entrepreneurs solving local challenges are some of York’s greatest assets, and they are leading the way forward. As Winters sees it, all of these efforts “have the same goal in mind: support small businesses in York through funding, mentorship, and education.”
Overcoming Obstacles and Supporting Local Entrepreneurs
Growing a small business is one of the more challenging goals an individual can pursue, but with the right tools and resources, success seems much more possible. The best entrepreneurs know that obstacles are a part of the job and that overcoming them is a key to success.
From his perspective at the J.D. Brown Center, Winters says, “We often see that small business owners are really good at what their business does, but are not as familiar with the back-end side of the business, things like accounting, marketing, and the like. This can be intimidating and prevent the aspiring entrepreneur from starting something simply because they feel overwhelmed.”
Luckily, such hurdles are no longer as high as they once seemed, thanks to the support system that York provides for its local businesses.
“There are so many resources available that can assist with taking that first step,” says Winters. “There are accelerator programs like the one offered at the J.D. Brown Center, mentorship programs like SCORE and the SBDC, government organizations like the SBA, and local non-profits dedicated to helping small business owners take that first step.”
Growing Small Businesses with York College
Winters sees an opportunity for York College to foster a relationship with the growing local community and small businesses:
“York College is one of the pillars of the local community, so they have an obligation to help that community grow and thrive. Many of the courses, specifically in the business school, invite local entrepreneurs to visit their classes to give the students real-world experience while also assisting the business owner.”
The J.D. Brown Center is one of the many resources available for small businesses on the York College campus, where staff dedicate themselves “to helping small businesses grow on both the student and the community side,” Winters explains. One of the many ways this is done is through The Business Incubator, “where companies are given space and the resources of York College to start and grow their business.”
Additionally, the College hosts a number of opportunities for students and community members, including entrepreneurship initiatives like:
York College is also excited about one of its newest additions, Knowledge Park. Housed on the land historically owned by York’s Schmidt & Ault Paper Co., the initiative is looking to further integrate the campus with its local business community. Hosting multiple local businesses and giving them the opportunity to grow their partnership with York College will support the cultural foundations of small businesses within the region.
As Winters sees it, “York is being recognized as a place where impactful entrepreneurship can exist, and with a much lower cost to do business and cost of living than other, perhaps more high-profile, locations. This is attracting new and exciting business to our region. And with [this] addition … this culture of entrepreneurship and opportunity will only continue to thrive.”
Finding Our Future
The role of small businesses in community development goes far beyond employing individuals in the community — beyond simply running a company in hopes of striking it rich. The social impact of small businesses and local entrepreneurs extends much further. They bring life to our community and inspire others. The York community is committed to supporting every individual in their journey to become a small business owner.
What makes this entrepreneurial spirit so successful? Winters believes there is one absolutely essential element:
”We’re all here to help each other grow. There is a huge network of individuals and organizations that are willing to offer advice and collaborate, so small business owners just need to remember one thing: they’re not in this alone!”
