Small businesses make up 97 percent of the country's exporters yet only 1 percent of the nation's small businesses export. This stat was cited by U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.,) last week to demonstrate that exporting offers an opportunity for small businesses to grow even as they are bogged down by the recession.

Landrieu also said, "exporting has become a practical solution for small businesses looking to survive and grow."

Read more about how the Small Business Administration has two key programs designed to help small businesses that export. Go here.

Tough times call for smart action. And it's inspiring to see that there is an intelligent program available that identifies small businesses with the greatest potential -- offered with the support of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Emerging 200 (e200) Initiative.

e200 helps small inner-city businesses that have substantial potential for growth connect with high-level training, networking and other resources that can help them succeed. The program was launched in 2007 in Milwaukee and nine other cities. This spring it will be expanded to 15 more.

"Programs like e200 are important because they help people create capacity," says Eric Ness, SBA district director for Wisconsin. "That's something we must do if we're going to be competitive in a global economy."

Small businesses will continue to help shape our future.