One key step to supporting small businesses is to acknowledge their importance in economic development plans.  Many economic development professionals are focused on attracting or retaining corporate employers, which provide economic benefits that are easy to define.  Support for small businesses and entrepreneurs is often harder to define, and it may be harder to measure the outcomes.  

Additional research is necessary to develop a better understanding of micro-businesses and sole proprietorships in Metro Boston.  Research topics might include: in what sectors are these entrepreneurs most common?  How do they structure their contractual relationships with other businesses?  How are they affected by tax programs and incentives?  What are the economic impacts of these businesses?   Such research could be conducted by academic institutions (such as Salem State College, which has already been looking at the issue) or industry associations, in cooperation with state agencies.  

Based on this research, public and private partners (including MAPC) can develop a set of best practices for municipal economic development staff to help inform their planning efforts.  The research results can also help to support ongoing discussion with state agencies to modify policies as necessary.  

8.a    The Massachusetts Office of Business Development should support additional research on micro-business and sole proprietorships in Metro Boston

8.b    Institutional and industry partners should develop strategies and municipal best practices to support small businesses

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