MONTGOMERY – Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday signed a proclamation formally declaring November 29 as Small Business Saturday in Alabama. Small Business Saturday is designed to celebrate and support small businesses and the impact it has on Alabama communities.
“Small Business Saturday is an important opportunity for Alabamians to support local retailers on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving,” Governor Bentley said. “Small businesses are the engines of job growth and an integral part of the equation that makes up a successful economy. By recognizing Small Business Saturday, we can help support the small businesses that contribute to our economy and our communities. As we begin the holiday shopping season, I encourage Alabamians to shop at local small businesses throughout Alabama.”
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there are approximately 400,000 small businesses in Alabama. In 2011, over 5,000 jobs were created by small businesses.
In September, Governor Bentley announced a statewide effort to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs. Last month, the Alabama Small Business Commission held its first meeting to begin working on issues critical to the economic growth of small businesses.
Rosemary Elebash, State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business chairs the commission and advisory committee and attended the proclamation signing Wednesday.
“Embracing Small Business Saturday gives Alabamians a chance to show their appreciation and help Alabama’s essential job creators in a very real way-by visiting shops, restaurants and service providers while shopping local,” Elebash said. “When you shop on Main Street, most of that money stays in your local community. We can all make a difference by participating in a day dedicated to small businesses and continue by “Shopping Small” all year.”
2014 is the 5th anniversary of Small Business Saturday. A copy of the Governor’s proclamation can be found here.
