Otter Tail County spotlights small businesses driving $3.28 billion economy

More than 1,800 business establishments now account for more than $3.28 billion in Otter Tail County’s economy, and about 30% of the county’s 31,000 workers earn their pay through small businesses. Commissioner Sean Sullivan said the county’s Small Business Week recognition was meant to honor the creativity, dedication and impact of owners whose shops, restaurants and service firms keep Fergus Falls, Perham and smaller towns moving.

The county board declared May 3-9, 2026, National Small Business Week, but the numbers behind the proclamation are what make it land. Otter Tail County’s own business-development strategy had previously put the local contribution at $2.95 billion and the workforce at 30,500 people. The newer figures point to a larger economic footprint than the county had been describing before, which suggests small firms are carrying even more weight in the local economy than they were when that strategy was written.

That matters because the county is not treating small business support as a slogan. Officials say they work with the West Central Minnesota Small Business Development Center, West Central Initiative, chambers of commerce, cities and other regional partners. In practical terms, that network is meant to help owners navigate the same problems that can slow a shop on Main Street or a restaurant in a small town: financing, expansion plans, staffing and local approvals. The county is also urging residents to shop local, eat at local restaurants and leave positive reviews, a reminder that daily spending choices still shape whether businesses can hire, invest and stay open.

The local announcement also fits into a national push. The U.S. Small Business Administration said National Small Business Week has been observed for more than 60 years, and its 2026 observance ran May 3-9. The agency says small businesses make up 99% of all U.S. businesses, employ about half the nation’s workforce and create two out of every three new jobs. Its free virtual summit was set for May 5-6, with workshops, federal resources, networking and mentorship opportunities, while a national awards ceremony was held in Washington, D.C., on May 3.

For Otter Tail County, the message is straightforward: the economy is not only measured in big employers or countywide totals. It is built, day by day, by the businesses that line local streets, serve local customers and pay a large share of the county’s wages.