NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jackson Swearer with StartUp Hutch said that the results of the 2022 Economic Impact Survey compiled by StartUp Hutch are positive, in his view.
"We use those results to guide our work to some extent," Swearer said. "We also share some of that information with our local public funding partners who help to support StartUp Hutch in our operations. That helps us to show the impact that our organization and local entrepreneurs and small businesses are having on our economy."
The best measures are how much money are you making and did you need more people to get the work done?
"The main questions that we ask are we ask for people's revenues and we also ask for some jobs numbers, including what their past jobs numbers were and current. We're trying to measure job growth. We did see that among the 21 respondents to our survey, which represents mostly folks who have borrowed some funds from us, but also just some people who I meet with throughout the year, they had a little under $10 million in total revenue and employed 233 people with 20 new jobs being created last year."
It's not that these businesses don't have challenges, though.
"We also ask people about what obstacles they are facing in business right now," Swearer said. "A lot of people referenced struggles with staffing and struggles with financing. I think the higher interest rate environment and low unemployment rate, small labor pool is affecting some of our local businesses, as well. Despite those headwinds, we are really seeing a lot of great economic activity in our small business community. I think that's something to celebrate."
For more information on StartUp Hutch funding opportunities, resources, or events, visit www.startuphutch.com or contact Swearer at 620-665-3319.
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