WHEREAS, California is home to the most innovative and competitive businesses, placing the state consistently among the top 10 economies worldwide, boasting a multitude of cutting-edge and globally competitive companies; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses embody the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our state’s economy, with over one-half of our private sector workforce finding employment within their ranks with 4,000,000 small businesses contributing to over 7,000,000 jobs as of 2023; and

WHEREAS, On a national basis, the 30,000,000 small businesses are responsible for creating nearly two out of three new jobs; and

WHEREAS, Within this diverse landscape of enterprises, 1,600,000 are owned by women and minorities, and over 2,000,000 are under veteran ownership. These businesses play a pivotal role, contributing to 43.2 percent of the state’s $186 billion in exports and supporting 583,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS, Small businesses are critical to the economic well-being of this state by creating new businesses and employment opportunities and by bringing new and innovative services and products to the marketplace; and

WHEREAS, The Legislature reaffirms our commitment to California’s small businesses to thrive and prosper and that supporting small-scale private sector job creators is among our most promising strategies to enhance California’s economic success and human capital, expand job opportunities, and increase our competitive advantage in the global marketplace; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing May as Small Business Month highlights the resilience and economic significance of mom-and-pop shops and innovative start-ups across the state, serving as vital pillars in our communities. Such acknowledgment reaffirms the Legislature’s dedication to supporting small businesses in California; now, therefore, be it