economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competitAnother New Year is upon us, hopefully more optimistic than the past. Better economic news, a rising stock market and a stubbornly slow upward movement in small business job creation. Are we returning to the way things were in the 90’s?

Not if we examine the make-up of the new entrepreneurs.

There are more women, continuing a growth that started several years ago. While males are still more predominant in owning and running small businesses, new business start-ups by women are about equal to those of men.

We are also seeing more minorities. Small businesses have historically been the economic entry point for immigrants and that is more true to day than ever before. Recent census bureau statistics indicates that the population growth of Texas, growing about 1.8 % annually is being fueled, in great measure, by continuing immigration growth. Aiding in the growth of minority business is the fact that venture capital is becoming more available to this growing entrepreneurial segment. A recently released study, "Minorities and Venture Capital" by William Bradford, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competiti

ew entrepreneurs.

There are more women, continuing a growth that started several years ago. While males are still more predominant in owning and running small businesses, new business start-ups by women are about equal to those of men.

We are also seeing more minorities. Small businesses have historically been the economic entry point for immigrants and that is more true to day than ever before. Recent census bureau statistics indicates that the population growth of Texas, growing about 1.8 % annually is being fueled, in great measure, by continuing immigration growth. Aiding in the growth of minority business is the fact that venture capital is becoming more available to this growing entrepreneurial segment. A recently released study, "Minorities and Venture Capital" by William Bradford, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competit

. Small businesses have historically been the economic entry point for immigrants and that is more true to day than ever before. Recent census bureau statistics indicates that the population growth of Texas, growing about 1.8 % annually is being fueled, in great measure, by continuing immigration growth. Aiding in the growth of minority business is the fact that venture capital is becoming more available to this growing entrepreneurial segment. A recently released study, "Minorities and Venture Capital" by William Bradford, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competituing immigration growth. Aiding in the growth of minority business is the fact that venture capital is becoming more available to this growing entrepreneurial segment. A recently released study, "Minorities and Venture Capital" by William Bradford, professor of finance and business economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competit economics at the University of Washington in Seattle and Timothy Bates, professor of economics at Michigan’s Wayne State University indicates that minority businesses should be able to access regular financing, because recent data suggests these investments are providing competitive yields with similar investment in other enterprises.

As the minority and immigrant entries in the small business arena grow, there is also an aging of the entrepreneur, most likely caused by reductions in staff by the larger corporations. New corporate opportunities are now more limited for many whom lost out during the recent downturn. No longer is the security of the large corporation taken for granted as it once was. These middle-aged entrepreneurs may approach small business as an opportunity. But many may not be prepared to work as hard and as long as the younger entrepreneur, who starts from a much different workplace experience. The aging entrepreneur may also be more service orientated trying to utilize his years of experience to help others, but often with only limited success.

Additionally, a much larger growth is taking place in the service areas and high tech areas. Once a smaller segment, service industries are now the fastest growing segment, outdistancing the retail sector. The smaller manufacturing segment continues but is no longer growing.

As the growth of minority entre