Today is Small Business Saturday, which is an encouragement for people to shop local.

Small Business Saturday was founded by American Express in 2011 to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. The day has quickly become a vital part of small businesses’ success during the busy holiday season. 

According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, there are 33.2 million small businesses in the U.S. and they make up 99% of all businesses. For the past 20 years, small businesses have accounted for roughly 40% of the United States’ gross domestic output (GDP), which equates to trillions of dollars of economic activity.

Here in South Central Iowa, small businesses are supported and promoted by local chamber of commerce branches.