Importance of Supporting Small Business Saturday

My small business roots run deep. While the hardware store my great grandfather started in 1906 no longer operates, we now have five generations that have owned various small businesses in North Dakota. I have seen first-hand the importance of the community to the success of their local small businesses and vice versa. Neither thrives without the other.

Small businesses drive our local economy by hiring workers, providing essential goods and services, and give back to our communities through supporting everything from area non-profits to the little league baseball teams.

According to SBA’s Office of Advocacy, there are 73,822 small businesses accounting for 98.7 percent of all North Dakota businesses. Nationally, there are over 33 million small businesses and startups in the United States. Small businesses create two-thirds of net new jobs, making them crucial pillars of communities across the country.

This year, Small Business Saturday will be held on November 25th, marking the 14th annual Small Business Saturday. Small Business Saturday is an opportunity create awareness of the important role small business play in our communities and in our local, state, and national economies.

Last year, shoppers came together to support their local communities, and Small Business Saturday drove an estimated $17.9 billion based on projections from U.S. consumer-reported spending.

Please help me support our local small businesses who support our main streets by shopping at a small retailer, eating at an independent restaurant, or hiring a small business service company. Together we can keep our communities vibrant and our small businesses successful.

Alan Haut is the SBA’s North Dakota district director based in Fargo. He oversees the agency’s programs and services across the entire state.