By: Wendell G. Davis

New England Regional Administrator

U.S. Small Business Administration

As we all know, 2020 has been a year fraught with challenges.  Our nation’s small businesses dealt with unimaginable changes and setbacks as they weathered the storm of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Through it all, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been at the forefront of our country’s recovery effort.  In fiscal year 2020, the SBA approved more loans in value and volume than it had in its entire 67-year history.  In six days, with the Treasury Department, the SBA built and launched the largest economic response program aimed at small businesses in American history – the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

PPP was an undeniable success across New England and the entire country. In New England more than 266,000 businesses received approximately $29 billion in forgivable loans over the life of the program. PPP was a lifeline for small businesses and helped the American workforce by providing critical economic relief, allowing businesses to stay open and keep workers on the payroll.

Now it is time for us as citizens in our communities to do our part to support the continued recovery of our Nation’s 31.7 million small businesses.  This year, we know that small businesses, need our support now more than ever as they navigate, retool, and pivot from the effects of the pandemic. Shopping and dining local this holiday season will help our communities as they continue with their recovery efforts. 

We can show our support by shopping small on November 28, 2020 – Small Business Saturday.  Celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a way for consumers to make an impact in their community by supporting independently owned businesses during the holiday season. The day is designed to support local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy, and preserve neighborhoods around the country. It was created to help independent businesses capture a larger piece of the critical holiday season consumer spending, while also helping address small business owners’ most pressing need: getting more customers through their doors.

Since 2011, the U.S. Small Business Administration has been a formal cosponsor of Small Business Saturday, which was founded by American Express. Each year, we encourage independent businesses to leverage Small Business Saturday to help drive more traffic to their businesses – whether it is through their doors or their e-commerce site during the holiday shopping season.

The holidays might look a little different this year; however, we can still share joy by shopping small and supporting our favorite small businesses and their employees on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season. If you do not want to head out to the shops because of safety concerns or restrictions, you can always shop online.  Many businesses have built up their online shops so that they can continue serving customers even when heading to the store isn’t feasible. 

Do some research and search the web to find out what your community is doing to support businesses on Small Business Saturday and during the holiday season. Some communities and chambers of commerce are hosting virtual shopping events to showcase local businesses.

Visit your favorite store’s website to see what your shopping options may be. Although finding the best way to support independent retailers might require a little advance planning, it is worth the extra effort, because the money you spend goes directly back into our communities.

I want you to join me in shopping small not only on Small Business Saturday and through this holiday season, but as often as possible. Our local shops and restaurants are depending on our continued support.