WASHINGTON – Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 34 million small businesses, is urging Americans to embrace the spirit of the holiday season by supporting local small businesses on Small Business Saturday, an annual event founded by American Express and celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2024. The event takes place the Saturday following Thanksgiving, which falls on Nov. 30 this year, and will be the kickoff of SBA’s 2nd annual holiday campaign, the Season of Small Business™.
“Small Business Saturday has become America’s call to action to support the backbone of our economy and heart of our communities – our small businesses,” said Administrator Guzman. “America’s incredible entrepreneurs create jobs, drive innovation, and strengthen our communities, shaping the unique character of neighborhoods across America. This year, as we continue to enjoy an unprecedented Small Business Boom, I encourage everyone to Gift Big and Shop Local™ by supporting local businesses and the millions of hardworking Americans behind them.”
SBA’s Season of Small Business will continue through December and encourages consumers to support small businesses throughout the holiday season. During the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. has experienced a small business boom with nearly 20 million new business applications(Link is external) filed nationwide, driven mostly by women and people of color.
SBA has been proud to support Small Business Saturday since 2011 to help drive consumer spending at independently owned small businesses in the wake of the financial crisis. The day is dedicated to celebrating local businesses that create jobs, help boost the economy and enhance neighborhoods around the country. According to American Express, the projected total reported spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday since its founding has reached an estimated $201 billion[i].
