This week marks the 48th National Small Business Week with recognition from the White House for small businesses’ contributions to the well-being of the economy. There is estimated to be 27.2 million small businesses in America, creating 60-80 percent of the new jobs in the country, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. More than half of Americans either work for or own a small company, increasing innovation worldwide.

This story comes to us from Jill Sankey:

With the U.S. Capitol as a backdrop, speakers at GW’s Commencement ceremony this morning told graduates to continue their dedication to making the world a better place, to advocate for those in need and to take chances.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg delivered the Commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Public Service from the university before an estimated 25,000 graduates, friends and family members.

Alumna and arts and education advocate Peggy Cooper Cafritz and attorney and civil rights pioneer William T. Coleman Jr. were also awarded honorary degrees at the ceremony.

In welcoming remarks, President Steven Knapp congratulated the graduates, many of whom came to the university in 2007 when he did. “I started when many of you were freshmen and am proud to be with you as you receive your hard-earned degrees,” he said.

Loudoun County Transit (LC Transit) has reached the milestone of one million rides. On Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at about 7:30 a.m., a passenger crossed the threshold by boarding a Loudoun County commuter bus, putting the service over one million rides for Fiscal Year 2011.

LC Transit provides commuter bus service weekdays from twelve park and ride lots throughout Loudoun to destinations within the Washington metropolitan region, including Tysons Corner, West Falls Church, Rosslyn, Crystal City, and the Pentagon.  Buses also make stops in the District of Columbia along major business corridors and near federal buildings and tourist locations. 

In FY 2001, total passenger trips were just over 180,000.  By June 2011 and the end of FY 2011, LC Transit will have logged just over 1.2 million passenger trips.  In 10 years the annual passenger trips have increased more than six fold.