SACRAMENTO - Recent statistics are showing a decline in the number of new, small businesses in the United States. 

Some economists believe one reason fewer small businesses are opening up shop comes down to the fact that potential entrepreneurs are capitalizing on an improving job market, choosing to join the general workforce rather than venturing out on their own.

According to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, there were an estimated 514,000 new business owners per month in the U.S in 2012. That number is down from 543,000 per month in 2011, and 565,000 in 2010 which was the peak of the recession.

In regards to Sacramento specifically, the city recently made a list of the most unfriendly cities for small businesses, due in part to high tax rates.

The Elk Grove Unified School District is saluting more than a dozen high school athletes with a signing ceremony next week at the Robert L. Trigg Education Center………6 young women and 7 young men from the sports of soccer, wrestling, baseball, swimming, and basketball will be recognized  Wednesday, May 1st…..Their colleges of choice range from Jackson State to Chico State to the Air Force Academy-----Congratulations to  Alex Gulseth, Haylah Valdry, Tatyana Garrett, Mark Langston, Cole Nordquist, Avonna Lee, Madison McCann, Arriana Rieland, Dylan Wakefield, Scott Votino, Brianna Avila, Mike Wright, and Ryan Manning---the ceremony will be at 9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road next Wednesday at 6:30pm