By Darrell Byers
Interise CEO

In the United States, we have wider disparities of wealth between rich and poor than any other major developed nation. This gap is wide – and growing.

As I am writing, I am reading headlines about how unemployment is at a record low. But look beyond the headlines and you’ll find that almost all the US jobs created since 2005 are temporary jobs. What’s more, unemployment remains at 15-20% in economically distressed communities. As far back as national job numbers go in the US, black unemployment has consistently been approximately twice the rate of joblessness for white people.

“Record low unemployment” doesn’t tell the full story.

This month, Interise launched our Boston-based StreetWise ‘MBA’™. The cohort, held in East Boston, provides executive education to the owners of established small businesses that are minority-owned and/or located in a low- or moderate-income community.

Interise's StreetWise 'MBA'™ (now available in 70+ cities nationwide) has been delivered in Boston for over 15 years. Since 2004, 16 cohorts and over 200 local companies have taken the program.

"We expect amazing results from you," said Darrell Byers, new CEO of Interise, to the program's participants at the East Boston kickoff event. "There's going to be hard work involved, but it will pay off in the end. We have the proof."

During National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) recognizes the staying power of America’s small businesses to create 21st century jobs, drive innovation, and increase America's global competitiveness.

But it’s not easy. According to the SBA, approximately half of all businesses fail by their fifth year.

We interviewed Interise alumni business owners chosen by the SBA as 2019 Small Business Person of the Year to get insights on how their company avoided becoming part of this statistic.

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Small businesses create over 56 million jobs for American workers. But not all small businesses show the staying power to keep these jobs and further drive inclusive economic development. Mature, established small businesses are more likely to contribute positively to net job creation and pay higher wages, on average, than younger firms.

According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, while startups create many jobs, the up-or-down of start-ups leads to low levels of net job creation after the initial year.

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