AWB ANNUAL REPORT 7
2016 SMALL BUSINESS LISTENING TOUR
WE CONVENED EMPLOYERS TO LISTEN AND LEARN
From Port Angeles to Pullman and Colville to Bellevue, the Association of Washington Business’ Government Affairs team traveled the state to meet with small-business owners in a 15-stop Small Business Outreach Tour.
Small-business owners told AWB their top concerns are: layering of new and higher taxes and labor costs, the growth of new and overlapping regulations and finding skilled workers.
The tour resulted in a detailed report and 2017 legislative agenda addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Washington’ s small-business owners— the 550,000 risk takers— that make up the backbone of Washington state’ s economy, particularly in rural regions.
555,285 51.7 91.6
Number of small businesses in Washington state
The percentage of Washington’ s workforce employed by a small business
The percentage of AWB members with 100 or fewer employees