Census Bureau Reports American Indian- and Alaska Native-Owned Businesses Generated $34 Billion in Receipts in 2007

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 236,967 American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses in 2007, an increase of 17.7 percent from 2002. The total number of U.S. businesses increased by 17.9 percent. American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses generated $34.4 billion in receipts in 2007, a 28.0 percent increase from 2002.

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These new data come from the Survey of Business Owners: American Indian- and Alaska Native-Owned Businesses: 2007. The survey provides detailed information every five years for American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses, including the number of firms, sales and receipts, number of paid employees and annual payroll.

"The data released today provides the only source of population-wide, regularly collected information on businesses owned privately by individual American Indians and Alaska Natives," said Thomas L. Mesenbourg, Census Bureau deputy director. "It's important to look at the progress of these businesses owned by individual American Indians and Alaska Natives to ensure they have access to the same entrepreneurial opportunities as other groups."

Data are presented by geographic area (nation, state, county, city and metro area), industry and size of business. Preliminary national and state data were released in July 2010.

The tabulations released today do not include tribally-owned businesses or businesses owned by Alaska Native Regional or Village Corporations and their subsidiaries, which are defined as government-owned.

Among states, in 2007, California had the largest number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses with 45,629, accounting for 19.3 percent of the nation's American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses. California was followed by Oklahoma, with 21,194 American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses (8.9 percent) and Texas, with 19,057 (8.0 percent).

Among counties, Los Angeles, Calif., had the largest number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses with 14,195, accounting for 6.0 percent of all the nation's American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses.

Among metropolitan areas, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, Calif., had the largest number of American Indian- and Alaska Native-owned businesses with 17,634 (7.4 percent), followed by New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, N.Y.-N.J.-Pa., with 13,188 (5.6 percent).

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SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau