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A "microbusiness" is typically defined as a business with twenty five or less employees, including the owners. Microbusinesses can be any type of business, including repair or cleaning services, computer technology, specialty foods, jewelry, arts and crafts, gifts, clothing and textiles, childcare, and environmental products and services. They can create employment for the owner and often other family members and, in some cases, may grow into larger businesses that employ members of the community.
Individually, our area’s microbusinesses may not be seen as having great economic impact. Their profits may help to support one family. They generally serve a relatively small segment of the public. Their individual contributions to the local government tax base are insignificant compared to individual mega-businesses. Collectively, our area’s microbusinesses have a great impact both economically, and in terms of the quality of life that we have come to expect in Southern Arizona. Microbusinesses provide choices for us as consumers and an empowering, self-directed lifestyle choice for each individual entrepreneur. In addition, dollars spent with local microbusinesses tend to stay in the community. The Microbusiness Advancement Center (MAC) is one of over 500 independent non-profit and public organizations that have the common goal of supporting the growth of local microenterprises as a strategy for sustainable economic and community development. MAC belongs to the Association of Enterprise Opportunity (AEO) - www.microenterpriseworks.org - the "industry association" for the microenterprise development industry. In addition to the economic development focus, MAC and the other AEO members have a strong social justice emphasis to their activities, using microenterprise development to offer paths toward economic self-sufficiency for often-disenfranchised populations. Many aspiring business owners have a skill in their product or service, but need skills training in the many aspects of business ownership. By providing training, support and financing to the microbusiness sector, MAC seeks to strengthen the success rate of individual businesses and the collective impact of the sector. MAC is funded by the US Small Business Administration, the City of Tucson and Pima County through Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities (TREO) and the investment of local charitable and business organizations. MAC was the 2005 winner of the Innovation Award by the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. |
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DISCLAIMERMAC is a non-profit organization, community based agency funded through the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Women's Business Ownership (OWBO), the City of Tucson, corporations, foundations, Arizona banks, and private donations. OWBO is the only office in the federal government established to help women become full partners in economic development through business ownership. The Office of Women's Business Ownership webpage is www.onlinewbc.gov SBA's cooperation does not constitute or imply its endorsement of any opinion, product, and/or service. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested two weeks in advance. All SBA programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. |
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