National Small Business Week Celebrated April 28 to May 4, 2024
There are far-reaching advantages to deciding to “shop local.” By supporting local businesses, you are in turn supporting your local economy; significantly more money stays in a community when purchases are made at locally owned – rather than nationally owned – businesses.
The U.S. Small Business Association and the U.S. Department of Labor report the positive impacts of small, independent businesses on local economies.
- Local businesses are more likely to utilize other local businesses such as banks, service providers, and farms.
- For every $100 you spend at local businesses, $68 will stay in the community.
- Independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales to the community in which they operate than chain competitors. Independent restaurants return more than two times as much money per dollar of sales than national restaurant chains.
- Small businesses employ 77 million Americans and accounted for 65% of all new jobs over the past 17 years.
In addition to helping build the local economy, there are also notable intangible benefits that come from supporting businesses in your local community.
- Local businesses are owned and operated by your neighbors! They care about and are invested in the well-being of your community and its future.
- Local businesses are more accountable to their local communities and donate more money to non-profits.
- Supporting local businesses is good for the environment because they often have a smaller carbon footprint than larger companies.
It isn’t always the easiest or most convenient option to visit a local independent business rather than a large national chain that might be down the street. However, there are plenty of ways you can help support your local economy by thinking local first:
- Try the menu at a local restaurant for lunch or dinner
- Purchase a birthday present at a local gift shop
- Join a local gym
- Visit a local nursery or hardware store for your lawn and garden needs
- Get your car serviced at a local mechanic
- Visit a farmer’s market to purchase the ingredients for your family dinner.
Top 10 Reasons to Shop Local First
- To shape and preserve our distinctive community character
- Local competition and diversity leads to more product choices
- It keeps and recirculates money in our community
- You’ll help support local job and opportunity creation
- It reduces environmental impact locally
- Because local businesses reinvest in our community
- It strengthens the local economy
- Because the local businesses help fund local non-profits
- To ensure that tax dollars stay local
- It encourages community pride and ownership
So the next time you need to run out for some groceries or do a little shopping, seek out a local business and see what they have to offer! You could discover some great products and services while helping to build a strong and successful community around you.
When you invest money in your local economy, you’re not just helping local business owners — you’re also helping yourself. You’re making your town a better place to live in, with a rich character, thriving economy, and tightly knit community. And the more local businesses prosper, the more new ones will open, making it even easier to continue shopping locally in the future.
A Proclamation on National Small Business Week, 2024 — https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2024/04/26/a-proclamation-on-national-small-business-week-2024/
Join SBA in Celebrating National Small Business Week 2024
Join us for National Small Business Week from April 28 – May 4, 2024 as we celebrate the backbone of our economy by recognizing the entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovative startups that define communities across America. Set against the backdrop of the historic Small Business Boom fueled by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, this National Small Business Week holds unique significance as we honor the entrepreneurs who create jobs, strengthen their neighborhoods, and solve global problems. See the list of winners in your communities.
National Small Business Week also includes a free, educational Virtual Summit from April 30 – May 1. This online event is packed with business workshops, networking opportunities, information on federal resources, and insights from expert speakers geared toward entrepreneurs looking to start and grow businesses. Sessions will cover several key topics including:
- Accelerate Business Growth with the Help of AI (presented by Visa)
- Securing Your Small Business in a Work-From-Anywhere World (presented by T-Mobile)
- Learn About the No-Cost SBA T.H.R.I.V.E Educational Program (presented by SBA)
- Unlock AI’s Potential for Your Small Business (presented by Grow with Google)
- Building a Foundation for Online Marketing Success: Review, Plan, and Execute (presented by Constant Contact)
- Leveraging E-Commerce to Scale Your Business (presented by Amazon)
- How to Start a Food Truck Business: A Step-by-Step Guide (presented by SCORE)
- 8 Practical Skills to Run a Successful Business (presented by Visa)
- Small Business Strategies for Collaboration and Productivity (presented by T-Mobile)
- Navigating Your Cash Flow (presented by Chase for Business)
- How to Turn Your Side Hustle into a Business & Securing Your First Loan (presented by NerdWallet)
- Future of Commerce 2024 (presented by Square)
- My SBA (presented by SBA)
- How to Write a Grant Proposal for Your Business (presented by SCORE)
In between sessions, explore free resources, take advantage of no-cost mentoring, make new connections, and get inspired by small business success stories.
We can’t wait to honor America’s 33.5 million small businesses at National Small Business Week 2024. Follow SBA on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for event updates. Join the conversation on social media using #SmallBusinessWeek. Full details can be found at sba.gov/nsbw.
Join the conversation and tell us about a great local business in your community: info@willamettevalleymagazine.com