Deadlines at work matter more than dinner at home for many American small-business owners, American Express Open’s Small Business Growth Pulse suggests.
Survey results revealed 79 percent of small-business owners make expanding their business a top priority; 89 percent of small-business owners say they sacrifice significant time to do so.
The survey also found 68 percent of small-business owners invested substantial savings into their ventures. Men (72 percent) were likelier to invest their own savings than women (62 percent), the study found.
The survey sampled 1,001 U.S. small-business owners of organizations with revenue of $250,000 and staffs of fewer than 100 workers. Ebiquity conducted the anonymous survey online in mid-December.
Surveyed small-business owners said they plan to invest in employees and equipment.
Fifty-nine percent of surveyed owners said they plan to hire more staff in the next six months — 29 percent will hire full time, 22 percent will hire part time and 8 percent will hire both. Seventy-one percent of small-business owners said they plan to invest in computers and software; 23 percent plan to invest in manufacturing and production equipment.
“As 2016 unfolds, small-business owners are working harder than ever to position their businesses for growth,” said Janey Whiteside, senior vice president and general manager of customer marketing and relationship management at American Express Open. “The personal commitments that small-business owners make are vital to their success, and their planned investments are indicative of how important growth is in the coming year.”
Twenty-four percent of survey respondents called uncertain economics the greatest challenge facing small-business owners. Confidence for capital access for growth is high at 92 percent but 64 percent of surveyed small-business owners said they’d have cash-flow issues in the next six months.
Henderson first Nevada city with AARP designation
Henderson became the first Nevada city to receive an AARP Age-Friendly Community designation. The Henderson City Council and Mayor Andy Hafen have voted to accept the designation.
Henderson has kept up with the design of an age-friendly community, which includes creating an accessible environment that encourages active and healthy aging for everyone in the community.
“Henderson has always been a premier place for retirees and seniors to live, and now we are being recognized for our long history of providing quality recreational and housing services for older adults,” Hafen said. “I am pleased that Henderson is the state’s first age-friendly community.”
Henderson plans to survey senior residents to determine the community’s needs. Henderson also plans to develop an advisory committee to continue incorporating age-friendly living into the city’s infrastructure.
“As the first Nevada city to join the AARP network of age-friendly communities, Henderson will be a model for the kind of smart, forward-thinking planning that makes communities great places to live at any age, and for generations to come,” Maria Dent, AARP Nevada state director, said. “We look forward to working with the city, residents and community partners on this exciting and important process.”
Henderson is one of 73 other communities with the AARP designation; the city applied for the designation in summer 2015. Henderson residents’ average age is 41 — above the national level of 37. More than 22 percent of Henderson’s population is older than 60.
Former Olympians and Paralympians reunite in Las Vegas
The Tropicana will welcome nearly 300 past Olympians and Paralympians Feb. 19-21 for the U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association’s reunion.
“Our reunion in Las Vegas is a great opportunity to share in the Olympic spirit as we look toward the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Rio,” said association President Gary Hall, who represented the U.S. in swimming at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games. “Our 2016 reunion theme is: all teams, all sports, all years, always.”
The three-day event will include a gala dinner that is open to the community, a memorabilia show, youth sports clinics, a fundraiser for the Olympians for Olympians Relief Fund, a small gathering of athletes by games year, an Olympics-themed video marathon and a celebrity golf tournament.
Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf will lead the local host committee with former Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki.
“Steffi and I are excited to be a part of Reunion 2016 and look forward to welcoming all the Olympians and Paralympians to my hometown of Las Vegas. I guarantee it will be a fun and exciting event,” Agassi said.