Small Business, Large Impact

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

March 31, 2025

While large, publicly traded companies are the primary focus of business news every day, millions of companies you have never heard of are out there grinding away. By now, you know the facts and figures, but they are worth repeating. Half of the Delaware workforce goes to work each day for small to medium-sized businesses across the state. 80% of our State Chamber members are small businesses, and many more are members of other local chambers of commerce across the state. These could be your favorite neighborhood restaurant, a laundromat, a boutique law or brokerage firm, a manufacturer, or your barber, hairstylist, or manicurist. Tens of thousands of these businesses dot our state and represent every imaginable industry or service category. These businesses are the reason we host our Superstars in Business awards luncheon every November.

I’m raising this now because the nomination and application process opens today! Click here to view the application and get started. We are also hosting a hybrid workshop on April 23 at 1:00 PM to guide applicants through the process, where members of the Superstars Selection Committee and past winners will share advice and best practices, helping you craft the best possible application. Register >

Please apply or encourage others you know or do business with to apply. The rewards are great, and the exposure is invaluable!

News You Can Use

This week's economic news kicks off tomorrow with February construction results, February job openings, and March auto sales figures. ADP employment data for March and February factory orders will be made public on Wednesday. Friday brings March U.S. unemployment rate numbers and remarks from key Fed officials, including Chairman Powell and Governors Barr and Waller.

This is a very light week for earnings calls as the first quarter of the year comes to a close. Loar Holdings is on the schedule today, while RH, BlackBerry, and UniFirst lead the calls on Wednesday. Things pick up on Thursday with Conagra, MSC Industrial, Guess?, and others.

Michael J. Quaranta

President

Delaware State Chamber of Commerce

Uniquely Delaware

The Large Impact of Delaware's Small Businesses

Delaware's small businesses are the backbone of the state's economy, making up 98.7 percent of all businesses and employing 201,082 people—practically half (49.2 percent) of the state's workforce. With 104,457 small businesses reported in 2024, the sector has proven its resilience and continues to grow. Small businesses also play a key role in global trade. Of the 2,233 firms that exported goods worth $4.4 billion from Delaware in 2022, 1,969 (88.2 percent) were small businesses. These small firms generated $863 million in exports, making up 19.5 percent of the state's total exports from identified firms. Read the full report >

A 2024 Superstar in Business, Delaware Nature Society’s mission is to connect people with the natural world to improve the environment through education, conservation, and advocacy. They envision a healthy and sustainable environment for all.

Learn more