Survey: Small business owners are shifting from survival to growth

New York City -- Survey results released Thursday showed that, for the first time since 2006, small business owners are shifting their focuses from just surviving to plotting growth. According to the 2011 American Express OPEN Spring Small Business Monitor, entrepreneurs say they are expecting to hire and make necessary capital investments in their firms, signaling signs of an economic recovery. The semi-annual survey revealed that 35% of small business owners have plans to hire, up nine percentage points from last fall and the highest level since the fall 2008 survey. Four-in-10 (44%) plan to make capital investments, compared