Conclusion

The data is clear: small businesses are the true engines of job creation, both in Idaho and across the United States. While large corporations have their place in the economy, the outsized focus on attracting and retaining big businesses at the expense of supporting small firms is misguided.

Idaho's impressive economic performance in recent years is largely thanks to its vibrant small business community. Imagine what could be achieved if state economic development efforts matched this reality, providing more support and resources to the small firms that are the bedrock of job creation and economic growth.

By realigning economic development strategies to better support small businesses, Idaho has the potential to not just maintain, but significantly accelerate its impressive job creation and economic growth trajectory. The numbers don't lie - small businesses are too big, and too important, to ignore.