Twenty Years of Building, Belonging, and Belief
National Entrepreneurship Week, a non-partisan, congressionally chartered initiative, takes place each year during the third week of February. This initiative seeks to empower, educate, and connect entrepreneurs because our national leadership understands that small businesses do not grow in isolation.
Entrepreneurs, mentors, lenders, educators, and ecosystem builders will once again come together to celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week, marking the 20th anniversary of the observance.
What began in 2006 as a national call to recognize the role entrepreneurship plays in strengthening local economies and expanding opportunity, has grown into something deeper. Today, National Entrepreneurship Week is not only about celebrating individual entrepreneurs, but about engaging, educating, and building access to America’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, developing and fostering entrepreneurial communities. It is a reminder that behind every business is a network of people and organizations working together to make that business possible.
Why National Entrepreneurship Week matters
Entrepreneurship is often framed as an individual pursuit driven by grit and determination. That spirit remains central to the American small business story. In practice, however, success is also shaped by access. Access to information. Access to capital. Access to trusted relationships.
National Entrepreneurship Week was created to make entrepreneurial resources more visible and more accessible. Over the past two decades, it has encouraged collaboration among lenders, educators, nonprofit partners, local governments, and business support organizations. By aligning programming and outreach during a single week, the annual observance helps reduce friction for entrepreneurs who are trying to find their footing or take their next step.
For many business owners, especially first-time founders or those navigating a career pivot, simply knowing where to start can be the biggest barrier. This week aims to help lower that barrier.
Where AmPac fits in the story
At its core, National Entrepreneurship Week is about strengthening the systems that help businesses grow. That mission closely aligns with the work of AmPac Business Capital.
As a mission-driven lender and Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), AmPac was built on the belief that access to capital is most effective when paired with education, guidance, and connection. The AmPac Entrepreneur Ecosystem was created to bring those elements together, reinforcing AmPac’s commitment to meeting entrepreneurs where they are and supporting their long-term success.
National Entrepreneurship Week underscores the importance of this approach. Businesses thrive when ecosystems are intentional, coordinated, and accessible. Through the Entrepreneur Ecosystem, AmPac is proud to be part of that collective effort, helping entrepreneurs move from ideas to action and support long-term stability.
Practical ways to take action during National Entrepreneurship Week
National Entrepreneurship Week is most impactful when it leads to action. Entrepreneurs and small business owners can use this week to take simple, meaningful steps that build clarity and confidence.
Search for SBA-hosted and partner events
The U.S. Small Business Administration maintains a searchable events calendar that includes free webinars and workshops offered by SBA offices and partner organizations nationwide. Entrepreneurs can filter by date, topic, and location, including California, Arizona, and Nevada.
https://www.sba.gov/events
Connect through the AmPac Entrepreneur Ecosystem
Through the AmPac Entrepreneur Ecosystem, business owners can access educational content, office hours, and community connections designed to support long-term success across California, Arizona, and Nevada.
https://ampac.com/entrepreneur-ecosystem/
Looking ahead
National Entrepreneurship Week may last seven days, but its purpose extends far beyond a single week. It is a reminder that entrepreneurship flourishes when communities invest in the systems that support it and when business owners are met with guidance rather than barriers.
AmPac salutes the entrepreneurs who take risks, create opportunities, and strengthen local economies across California, Arizona, and Nevada. As we commemorate this milestone year, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting the continued growth of entrepreneurship throughout the C.A.N. footprint and to strengthening the ecosystems that help businesses thrive.