Small Businesses, Big Problems http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=138960721&ft=1&f=138960721 Every business starts small. But more than ever, it's harder to turn small businesses into bigger companies that employ more people. In a country that desperately needs more jobs, this is a big problem. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Small Businesses, Big Problems http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=138960721&ft=1&f=138960721 Ag Business Strained Finding Good Crop Of Employees Unemployment remains high, but a Michigan farm co-op is still having trouble recruiting and filling open positions. Prospective employees aren't willing to move to a state with one of the highest jobless rates, or to change jobs in an uncertain economy, company executives say. Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/19/139745806/ag-business-strained-finding-good-crop-of-employees?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/19/139745806/ag-business-strained-finding-good-crop-of-employees?ft=1&f=138960721 Unemployment remains high, but a Michigan farm co-op is still having trouble recruiting and filling open positions. Prospective employees aren't willing to move to a state with one of the highest jobless rates, or to change jobs in an uncertain economy, company executives say.

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]]> Wage Rules Twist Steel Company's Growth Plans In Washington state, a law designed to help contractors by setting an hourly wage for in-state projects is actually hurting Precision Iron Works, the company's president says. Steve Leighton says contractors like him can lose out on projects because out-of-state companies — which don't pay the rates — can outbid them. Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139669069/wage-rules-twist-steel-companys-growth-plans?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/18/139669069/wage-rules-twist-steel-companys-growth-plans?ft=1&f=138960721 In Washington state, a law designed to help contractors by setting an hourly wage for in-state projects is actually hurting Precision Iron Works, the company's president says. Steve Leighton says contractors like him can lose out on projects because out-of-state companies — which don't pay the rates — can outbid them.

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]]> Big Business Freezes Out New York Ice Company Natuzzi Brothers has been selling ice since 1959, but it's having trouble expanding because three big companies now control almost half of the wholesale ice market. Wed, 17 Aug 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/17/138818887/big-business-freezes-out-new-york-ice-company?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/17/138818887/big-business-freezes-out-new-york-ice-company?ft=1&f=138960721 Natuzzi Brothers has been selling ice since 1959, but it's having trouble expanding because three big companies now control almost half of the wholesale ice market.

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]]> Credit Troubles Teach Entrepreneur Better Business With the country still digging its way out of the recession, banks have severely tightened lending to small firms — making it harder for many to get back on their feet. But Daphne Wilson, an entrepreneur in Milwaukee, Wis., didn't let being turned down by four banks stop her. Tue, 16 Aug 2011 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/138755105/credit-troubles-teach-entrepreneur-better-business?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/138755105/credit-troubles-teach-entrepreneur-better-business?ft=1&f=138960721 With the country still digging its way out of the recession, banks have severely tightened lending to small firms — making it harder for many to get back on their feet. But Daphne Wilson, an entrepreneur in Milwaukee, Wis., didn't let being turned down by four banks stop her.

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]]> Series Overview: Small Businesses, Big Problems Small firms represent about 99 percent of all U.S. businesses, but a recent study shows that while businesses are being formed at roughly the same rate as in the past, they're creating fewer jobs than they once did. An NPR series examines some of the obstacles to growth faced by small-business owners. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/15/139027673/series-overview-small-businesses-big-problems?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/15/139027673/series-overview-small-businesses-big-problems?ft=1&f=138960721 Small firms represent about 99 percent of all U.S. businesses, but a recent study shows that while businesses are being formed at roughly the same rate as in the past, they're creating fewer jobs than they once did. An NPR series examines some of the obstacles to growth faced by small-business owners.

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]]> Growing Pains Hurt Native American Food Company Quick access to credit is not an easy thing for any small business to attain. But it's even harder for Native American Natural Foods. Its headquarters in South Dakota sits on tribal lands and therefore has no value that could be used as collateral for a loan. Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/15/138785476/growing-pains-hurt-native-american-food-company?ft=1&f=138960721 http://www.npr.org/2011/08/15/138785476/growing-pains-hurt-native-american-food-company?ft=1&f=138960721 Quick access to credit is not an easy thing for any small business to attain. But it's even harder for Native American Natural Foods. Its headquarters in South Dakota sits on tribal lands and therefore has no value that could be used as collateral for a loan.

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