State Steering Committee | State Quick Facts |
Ruben BarralesFormer President and CEO, Latino Leadership & Policy Forum; Current President of GROW Elect Sean BroderickOwner & General Manager, Western Utilities Transformer Service Howard CombsProfessor of Marketing, San Jose State University Jason DouglasOwner, Palo Cedro Wireless Communications Joel FoxPresident, Small Business Action Committee Chris GuzmanOwner, Magma Creative Jason PittockManaging Partner, Palo Cedro Wireless Communications Eric RothmanOwner, Roots Juice Bar Tom ScottFolsom Small Business Owner Gracie SlagelOwner, Gracie & Co. Hair and Nail Salon Ron StickneyOwner, The Builder, Inc. | Nickname:The Golden State Capital:Sacramento 2015 Population:39,140,000 Gross State Product:$2 Trillion Total Nonfarm Employment:16,618,200 Governor:Jerry Brown (D) Senators:Dianne Feinstein (D) Representatives: |
Support For Local Business
Representative Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12) “Our small businesses and entrepreneurs are the great engine of the American economy,”
(California Representative Nancy Pelosi, “Pelosi Announces Congressman Mark Takai Will Join Small Business Committee” http://www.democraticleader.gov. 4/22/15)
Representative Mimi Walters (R-CA-45) “Small businesses are the backbone of our economy – and government shouldn’t make it more difficult for them to thrive and expand.
(California Representative Mimi Walters, “Press Release” walters.house.gov. 2/12/16)
Governor Jerry Brown (D) “California has more than 3.8 million small businesses operating in the state – the most of any state in the union. These firms employ 50 percent of our workforce and drive the economy of California, the 6th largest economy in the world. Our small businesses are respected globally for their innovation and fortitude. The vast majority of the companies employ 500 or fewer workers and, collectively, they make up 99 percent of all firms in California.”
(Governor Jerry Brown, “Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Small Business Month,” gov.ca.gov. 5/1/17)
Business Highlights
California’s nearly four million small businesses represent 99.8% of all employers in the state and employ 6.8 million workers.
Women-owned businesses make up 1.3 million of California businesses.
Veteran-owned businesses make up 252,200 of California businesses.
California businesses have an annual payroll of more than $664 billion.
A total of 72,591 small businesses, which operate internationally, competing in global markets on a daily basis for inputs, capital, and customers, export from California.
California exports reached a record $163.6 billion in 2016, with products and services going to 229 countries.
Fifty-Three Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Golden State.