AWB ANNUAL REPORT 7
2016 SMALL BUSINESS LISTENING TOUR
WE CONVENED EMPLOYERS TO LISTEN AND LEARN
From Port Angeles to Pullman and Colville to Bellevue , the Association of Washington Business ’ Government Affairs team traveled the state to meet with small-business owners in a 15-stop Small Business Outreach Tour .
Small-business owners told AWB their top concerns are : layering of new and higher taxes and labor costs , the growth of new and overlapping regulations and finding skilled workers .
The tour resulted in a detailed report and 2017 legislative agenda addressing the challenges and opportunities facing Washington ’ s small-business owners — the 550,000 risk takers — that make up the backbone of Washington state ’ s economy , particularly in rural regions .
555,285 51.7 91.6
Number of small businesses in Washington state
The percentage of Washington ’ s workforce employed by a small business
The percentage of AWB members with 100 or fewer employees