SCORE of Chester and Delaware Counties recently celebrated the spirit of small business by awarding five regional businesses with awards at the Concord Country Club, writes Brian McCullough for the Daily Local News.

Two of those businesses are based in Delaware County.

Aston’s Heartline Press Inc., a printing and design business owned by Springfield native Ryan Hartley, is now a success after Hartley conferred with SCORE staff on how to improve his operations.

Action Potential founding partners Kathy Dixon and Kristen Wilson grew their Glen Mills physical therapy business from treating 93 clients in 2012 to 404 in 2015.

“To all of the winners, your stories are inspiring,” said Theresa Stringer of Citadel, the event sponsor.

Steve Records from the national SCORE – an organization of mostly retired executives who volunteer by helping startup and young businesses by giving business advice – said the volunteers “epitomize what is best in America.”

Last year, 10,000 SCORE volunteers gave assistance to 300,000 people. Of those, 53,000 started new businesses, he said. Locally, nearly 500 jobs were created by new companies advised by the Chester and Delaware County chapter, he said.

“The country as a whole benefits” from the work of small business, state Sen. Andrew Dinniman, D-19, of West Whiteland, agreed, noting in Pennsylvania 68 percent of the economy is comprised of small businesses. “It’s really the American Dream we’re talking about today.”

According to McCullough, State Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160, of Upper Chichester, told the audience of more than 125 people that he had been a small business operator for 24 years before going into politics.

“Starting a small business today can be a very scary thing,” Barrar said, noting the challenging regulations and economic climate. “Without successful small businesses, there is no job creation.”

Mario Civera, chairman of the Delaware County Council, noted that he started Civera’s Deli in Drexel Hill, so he knows what it’s like to be a small businessman.

“It gets in your blood and you’ll never get it out,” he jokingly warned the award winners. “It’s almost as good as being a politician.”

Click here to read more about the SCORE award winners in the Daily Local News.