Business : Small Business Development Center Iowa Tout a Record-Breaking Year for Iowa

More than 35,000 new businesses registered with the Iowa Secretary of State's Office in 2023

Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Austin Strawhacker, Associate State Director for the America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Iowa, are joining forces to celebrate a successful year for Iowa business, including thousands of new businesses registered and a high percentage of women-owned businesses.

"It is clear that the Iowa business community is thriving. In fact, we've seen a record number of new businesses register with our office this year," said Secretary Pate. "This is actually a trend we've identified,= -- Iowa has broken records for new business entities registered with our office in seven of the last eight years."

Throughout 2023, more than 35,000 new businesses registered with the Iowa Secretary of State's Office, resulting in almost 280,000 active businesses currently filed with the Iowa Secretary of State. In 2022, around 32,000 new businesses were registered.

In order to best serve Iowa businesses, the Secretary of State's Office relies on key partnerships at the federal, state, and local levels, including America's SBDC Iowa.

"America's SBDC Iowa is thrilled to express our appreciation for the partnership with Secretary Pate and his exceptional team," said Strawhacker. "Our collaboration enhances the reach and impact of Business Counseling, a crucial resource for new businesses, ensuring that even more Iowa entrepreneurs benefit from our strong referral network with the Secretary's team. Together, we're fostering a thriving environment for Iowa's business community.

Of the more than 13,000 clients America's SBDC Iowa has worked with over the last 5 years, more than 50% of them were women-owned business, which is a signal of a strong and welcoming business environment, according to both Strawhacker and Secretary Pate.

The Iowa Secretary of State's office is also launching a new educational video storytelling project to feature stories of resilience from Iowa business owners to inspire Iowans to start new businesses and take advantage of resources available from the Secretary of State's Office and America's SBDC Iowa. These videos are part of an ongoing campaign and can be accessed on the Iowa Secretary of State's website and on social channels.