On May 7th Supervisor Ray Mueller sponsored a proclamation to designate May as Small Business Awareness Month. Krystlyn, the Coastside Chamber CEO, was honored to be invited to accept the proclamation on behalf of the Coastside business community alongside the Chamber San Mateo County CEO, Amy Buckmaster.

Both CEOs spoke about how much small businesses still need support from the community to keep afloat. The post-pandemic economy is still very harsh for businesses which is why both Chambers are so appreciative at the support and awareness the San Mateo County Supervisors and Staff continue to show.

The proclamation hangs prominently in the Opportunity Center of the Coastside and is a wonderful symbol that small businesses are at the heart of what we do.

Proclamation

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PROCLAMATION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF MAY 2024 as SMALL BUSINESS AWARENESS MONTH

WHEREAS, SMALL BUSINESS AWARENESS MONTH raises awareness about the contributions of small
businesses to the local community and the County’s thriving economy, providing employment to individuals, and honors the work of local agencies and non-profit organizations that teach the fundamentals of how to create a small business and sustain it; and

WHEREAS, according to the Employment Development Department, California has the fifth largest economy in the world, with a labor force of 19,394,300 individuals, of which, 18,316,000 individuals are employed, with an adjusted unemployment rate of 5.6 percent, and a rate of 3.7 percent in the County; and

WHEREAS, according to the Employment Development Department, 99 percent of San Mateo County/San Francisco businesses have fewer than 100 employees, with 74 percent having less than five employees; and

WHEREAS, to continue to support the thriving small business sector, San Mateo County proactively partners with: the Small Business Development Center, Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center, Chambers of Commerce, neighborhood and downtown merchant groups, industry trade groups, The San Francisco Peninsula, municipal economic development and planning departments, California Community Colleges Economic & Workforce Development Program, the Opportunity Center of the Coastside, Coastside Venture Studios, and the California Office of the Small Business Advocate to advocate for, invest in, train, and support the growth of existing and aspiring small businesses in the County, creating access and opportunities for women- and minority-owned businesses, startups, and agricultural businesses that contribute toward the San Mateo County economy; and

WHEREAS, small business success and growth is important to San Mateo County and the State, reflected in the data point from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) and the United States Small Business Administration highlighting that California surpasses other states, representing 13 percent of all small businesses in the United States.; and

WHEREAS, San Mateo County aligns with the State’s mission of passing local policy, engaging in outreach and education, providing resources, and regularly partnering with the above-referenced organizations to promote a strong local workforce, vibrant economy, and inclusive community around small businesses on the Peninsula and along the coastal zone.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo,
State of California, hereby designates the month of May 2024 as SMALL BUSINESS AWARENESS MONTH in San Mateo County to acknowledge the important role of small businesses and educational providers in the community, and to support continued efforts to improve access to resources, education, and the sustainability of small businesses.

Dated: May 7, 2024

Photo Credit: Bryan Kingston, San Mateo County