Why Small Business Week 2024 is extra special for one East Tennessee business

It's Small Business Week across the United States, and one East Tennessee business has even more reason to celebrate this year. Craig Charles, the owner of Crown Cutz Academy of Barber and Style in Johnson City, is a 2024 Small Business Person of the year.

Crown Cutz opened in 2015 to provide quality barber education within the Appalachian Highlands area.

"We're thrilled to celebrate our very own Craig Charles, awarded Tennessee's Small Business Person of the Year," Crown Cutz wrote on Facebook. "His journey from a young barber to the founder of Crown Cutz Academy inspires us all. Here's to making a difference, one haircut at a time."

The Small Business Administration chose business owners from each state to recognize. In a release, Small Business Administration Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said winners "exemplify excellence, innovation, and commitment, and the SBA is proud to showcase their incredible achievements and impact on their communities and our economy."

Award recipients attended an award celebration from April 28-29 in Washington, D.C.

What is Small Business Week?

The first national Small Business Week was in 1963 thanks to a presidential proclamation from John F. Kennedy to celebrate entrepreneurs across the country. Now, it's turned into a week, April 29-May 4, of encouragement for all business owners.

President Joe Biden used the occasion to tout improvements to the economy since he took office during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Growth is strong, wages are rising, and inflation is down.  We are witnessing a small business boom.  Across the country, we are experiencing a great comeback story — and small businesses are playing a key part," Biden said in a release.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act and loan expansions from the Small Business Administration are all Biden-delivered wins for small businesses, he said.

"(Small businesses) are the glue that helps hold our Nation together," Biden said. "In their dedication to their communities and in their courage, hope, sweat, and drive, small business owners embody the spirit of America and our boundless possibilities.  This week, we recommit to making that future real and leaving no one behind."

Is Tennessee a good place for small businesses?

Forbes Advisor recently released an analysis of "The Most and Least Risky Cities for Small Businesses," the USA TODAY Network-Tennessee reported. They looked at factors like the local growth development rate, commercial property prices, property crime rates, natural disasters, cyber crimes and more to determine which cities had the most or least risk factors involved.

Only two major Tennessee cities made the list, Nashville is on the good list, and Memphis is on the not-so-good list.

Memphis ranked as the eighth most risky city to start a business in. With a score of 80.50, Memphis was behind the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro area in Pennsylvania and in front of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin metro area in Illinois. The list ranked Memphis with the lowest GDP growth rate at -1.2% and the worst for property crime with 73 crimes per 1,000 residents.

Nashville on the other hand ranked as the fourth least risk city to have a small business in. According to Forbes Advisor, the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro area's score of 6.47 lands it a spot just behind Salt Lake City, Utah. Nashville's property crime rate is the ninth lowest on the list and the economy is ranked 11th best with a GDP growth rate of 0.90%.

Who else is talking about Small Business Week around the state?

Other Tennessee elected officials are acknowledging Small Business Week as well. Sen. Bill Hagerty in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, encouraged Tennesseans to shop local.

"We recognize the grit and hard work of small business owners and their businesses that are the backbone of our nation, in TN and across the country," Hagerty wrote.

Gov. Bill Lee, also issued a proclamation commemorating the occasion. He said in the proclamation the success of small businesses directly correlates with the overall prosperity and well-being of local communities.

U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who represents Middle Tennessee and parts of Davidson County, commemorated the celebration as well on X, formerly known as Twitter, by reminding people to shop local.

USA TODAY Network-Tennessee reporter Jordan Green contributed to this report.

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnewsws.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: East Tennessee business Crown Cutz celebrated for Small Business Week