Local Council Declares November 27th as Small Business Saturday

As the Mayor of Salem, Virginia, I am proud to proclaim November 25, 2023 as Small Business Saturday in our city. We celebrate and support local small businesses for their contributions to our community and economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses account for 99.7% of firms with paid employees and are responsible for 62.7% of net new jobs created since 1995. Additionally, every dollar spent at a small business in the United States stays in the local community and creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity through employee purchases and purchases by other local businesses.

In recent years, consumers have shown a preference for shopping at small, independently-owned retailers and restaurants during Small Business Saturday. Seventy-two percent of consumers reported that Small Business Saturday 2022 made them want to shop at these establishments all year long. It’s clear that supporting small businesses has a positive impact on our community and economy, both locally and nationally.

The City of Salem is committed to advocating for small businesses throughout the year, not just on one day each year. We encourage residents to shop at local merchants on Small Business Saturday and throughout the year as part of our “Shop Small” initiative. By choosing to support local businesses, we can create stronger communities and contribute to a more sustainable economy.

I urge everyone in our community to join me in celebrating Small Business Saturday on November 25th this year and beyond by choosing to Shop Small throughout the year!