[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 18, 2011)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 28623-28624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12307]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 96 / Wednesday, May 18, 2011 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 28623]]

                Proclamation 8673 of May 12, 2011

                
Small Business Week, 2011

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Our country started as an idea, and it took hard-
                working, dedicated, and visionary patriots to make it a 
                reality. Successful businesses start much the same 
                way--as ideas realized by entrepreneurs who dream of a 
                better world and work until they see it through. From 
                the family businesses that anchor Main Street to the 
                high-tech startups that keep America on the cutting 
                edge, small businesses are the backbone of our economy 
                and the cornerstones of America's promise.

                 Throughout our economic recovery, persevering small 
                businesses have helped put our country back on track. 
                Countless new and saved jobs have come from small 
                businesses who took advantage of tax relief, access to 
                capital, and other tools in the Recovery Act, the Small 
                Business Jobs Act, and other initiatives launched by my 
                Administration to put Americans back to work. To ensure 
                the stability of our recovery, we must continue to 
                provide new opportunities for small business owners and 
                the next generation of entrepreneurs, who will help us 
                out-innovate our global competitors to win the future.

                 To support high-growth businesses, my Administration 
                has launched Startup America, an initiative that will 
                strengthen access to capital and mentoring while 
                reducing barriers to growth for small businesses. 
                Entrepreneurship is essential to the strength and 
                resilience of our economy and our way of life. Startup 
                America will give entrepreneurs the tools they need to 
                build their business into the next great American 
                company. To encourage innovation, we released the 
                Strategy for American Innovation, a report outlining my 
                Administration's plan to harness ingenuity. This means 
                investing in the building blocks of innovation, like 
                education and infrastructure, while promoting market-
                based growth through tax credits and effective 
                intellectual property laws.

                 The National Export Initiative is working to open 
                markets to American businesses and support small 
                exporters, who increase American competitiveness abroad 
                and create good jobs here at home. We continue to 
                create opportunities for businesses in underserved 
                communities through new lending initiatives, expanded 
                access to counseling, and technical assistance. We are 
                also working to provide small businesses more 
                opportunities to compete for Federal contracts. This 
                gives Federal agencies access to some of our country's 
                best products and services while helping these 
                businesses grow and employ community members. Through 
                these and other initiatives, we are supporting the 
                entrepreneurs and small businesses that provide work 
                for half of American workers and create two out of 
                every three new private sector jobs.

                 Small businesses embody the promise of America: that 
                if you have a good idea and are willing to work hard 
                enough, you can succeed in our country. This week, we 
                honor and celebrate the individuals whose inspiration 
                and efforts keep America strong.

[[Page 28624]]

                 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim May 15 through May 
                21, 2011, as Small Business Week. I call upon all 
                Americans to recognize the contributions of small 
                businesses to the competitiveness of the American 
                economy with appropriate programs and activities.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United 
                States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2011-12307
Filed 5-17-11; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-W1-P