ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – With the holiday shopping season officially kicking off this weekend, state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is encouraging local residents to support community-owned small businesses on Small Business Saturday this Saturday, Nov. 25.

“Small businesses are crucial to the success of our local economy,” said Halpin. “When we patronize locally owned restaurants and small businesses, more of our tax dollars remain in the community, contributing to economic growth and development.”

Nov. 25 is the 8th Annual Small Business Saturday, which is a designation aimed at helping small businesses compete with large retailers between the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The Small Business Saturday initiative highlights the benefits of shopping at area stores, which include sustaining jobs for local residents, tax revenue, sponsorships for community groups, support for charities and unique personalized services. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Halpin is encouraging residents to shop locally.

Throughout his term, Halpin has worked to provide small business owners the opportunity to compete with powerful, multi-billion dollar corporations in promoting their businesses and ensuring that local dollars remain in the community. Earlier this year, Halpin voted to require state agencies and departments to prioritize American-made and Illinois-made products when making purchases, which would help use our tax dollars to create jobs locally instead of padding the profits of out-of-state and foreign corporations. Halpin also pushed for measures that will reward small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs in Illinois, while banning all taxpayer-funded deals for corporations that pad their profits by shipping American jobs overseas.

“Much of my legislative agenda is focused on holding accountable powerful, multi-billion dollar corporations that ship our jobs overseas, providing small business owners the opportunity to compete with them and prioritizing Illinois-made products,” said Halpin. “I will continue to support the local businesses that employ our friends, neighbors and family members and encourage area residents to do so as well on Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season.”

DECATUR, Ill. – With the holiday shopping season officially kicking off this weekend, state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, is encouraging local residents to support community-owned small businesses on Small Business Saturday this Saturday, Nov. 25.

“Small business owners are our friends, family members and neighbors, and they are also the backbone of our local economy,” said Scherer. “On Small Business Saturday and throughout the holiday season, I encourage area residents to join me in supporting Illinois workers by shopping locally and prioritizing Illinois- and US-made goods.”

Small Business Saturday was established in 2010 as an annual event to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small, local businesses. Small Business Saturday follows Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of their holiday shopping. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Scherer is encouraging residents to shop locally.

“It’s important to me that our tax dollars are used to spur economic growth and create jobs here in central Illinois,” said Scherer. “As shoppers begin their holiday gift-buying, I ask them to join me in helping small businesses succeed and our community thrive.”

JOLIET, Ill. – As the holiday shopping season officially kicks off this weekend, state Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, is encouraging local residents to frequent locally owned small businesses as part of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25.

“As residents begin shopping for loved ones this holiday season, it’s important to remember the role locally owned small businesses play in our community,” Walsh said. “It’s been shown that money spent at small businesses stay locally and help create even more good-paying jobs.”

Walsh is working to provide small business owners the opportunity to compete with powerful, multi-billion dollar corporations in promoting their businesses and ensuring that local dollars remain in the community. Earlier this year, Walsh voted to require state agencies and departments to prioritize American-made and Illinois-made products when making purchases, which would help use our tax dollars to create jobs locally instead of padding the profits of out-of-state and foreign corporations.

A day that was first established in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual event to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small, local businesses. Small Business Saturday succeeds Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of their holiday shopping.

According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Walsh is encouraging residents to shop locally rather than supporting powerful corporations.

“While the large box stores have the ability to advertise, small businesses often have to rely on word of mouth in order to get shoppers through their doors,” Walsh said. “I hope every holiday shopper will spend some time in small businesses this Saturday and throughout this holiday season to see what’s available in our own backyard.”

COLLINSVILLE, Ill. – State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, encourages residents to shop local this holiday season and support the Metro East’s small business community.

“I visit many local businesses in our community to learn more about the issues impacting the employers in my district,” said Stuart. “I see firsthand how local businesses give back to our community, not only through their contributions to the regional economy but also through their charity work to benefit members of our community. I recently visited Kurt’s Collision in Maryville, whose employees recently got to work at 4 a.m. to cook 16 turkeys for over 100 veterans who may not have had a family to celebrate this holiday season with. This is just one example of how much small business give back to the community, and we owe it to them to support them with our wallets.”

Stuart, who sponsored legislation to prioritize American-made and Illinois-made products in state purchasing, is encouraging local residents to participate in Small Business Saturday on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday is an alternative to Black Friday and Cyber Monday and encourages holiday shoppers to patronize brick and mortar local businesses.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and I have enjoyed getting to know the owners and see all of the good work they do for our residents,” Stuart continued. “I encourage everyone to participate in Small Business Saturday to support the small businesses that support our community.”

ROMEOVILLE, Ill – With the holiday season around the corner, state Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is encouraging local residents to celebrate and support locally owned, small businesses on Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 25 this year.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and they need our support especially during the holiday season,” said Connor. “My family and I have made a commitment to do a portion of our holiday shopping at locally owned small businesses that give back to our communities, hire local workers and stimulate the regional economy.”

Connor wants to provide small business owners the opportunity to compete with multi-billion dollar corporations in promoting their businesses and ensuring that local dollars remain in the community.

First established in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual event to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small, local businesses. Small Business Saturday succeeds Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of their holiday shopping. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Connor encouraging residents to shop locally.

“It’s so easy to turn to online shopping or big box stores at this time of year,” Connor added. “Small Business Saturday is a reminder that we have great shops and businesses right here in our communities that need our support and investment. I encourage everyone to do what they can to support the businesses right here in our own towns.”

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill – With the holiday season around the corner, state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, is encouraging local residents to celebrate and support locally owned, small businesses on Small Business Saturday this Nov. 25.

“Large corporations concentrate their profits in the hands of a few and send jobs overseas while small businesses reinvest in our community,” Jones said. “It is important we support our neighbors and the economy we live in by shopping at locally-owned shops.”

First established in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual event to encourage holiday shoppers to visit and buy from independent establishments. Small Business Saturday follows the day after Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of their holiday shopping. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Jones is encouraging residents to shop locally rather than supporting large businesses that take money out of the area.

“Independent businesses create jobs that directly impact the well-being of our area,” Jones said. “I look forward to shopping this Small Business Saturday, and I encourage residents to do the same.”

CHICAGO – With the holiday shopping season around the corner, state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez, D-Cicero, is encouraging local residents to celebrate and support locally owned, small businesses on Small Business Saturday this Nov. 25.

“Small, locally owned businesses are the bedrock of our community,” Hernandez said. “So as we approach the holidays, it’s important to keep them in mind when buying holiday gifts for our friends and family. I encourage everyone to support businesses in our neighborhoods so that local dollars remain in our community rather than go to a multinational corporation.”

Hernandez represents the Little Village neighborhood’s business corridor, 26th Street, which features approximately 500 local businesses, including butcher shops, pharmacies and more than 100 restaurants. This corridor is the second highest grossing commercial corridor in Chicago, generating approximately $900 million in sales in 2011.

Small Business Saturday was established in 2010 as an annual event to encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small, local businesses. Small Business Saturday follows Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of their holiday shopping. According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Hernandez is encouraging residents to shop locally.

“Small businesses are what make the economy of our communities grow,” Executive Director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, Jaime di Paulo said. “It is essential to support our community’s small businesses, they employ our neighbors and create wealth in our community.”

DES PLAINES, Ill. – As the holiday shopping season officially kicks off this weekend, state
Rep. Marty Moylan, D-Des Plaines, is encouraging local residents to frequent locally owned
small businesses as part of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 25.

“When you support locally-owned small businesses, you’re helping provide our friends,
neighbors, and community with good-paying jobs,” Moylan said. “It’s important to shop locally
year-round, but it is especially beneficial during the holiday season when businesses traditionally
begin making a profit for the year.”

Moylan is working to provide small business owners the opportunity to compete with powerful,
multi-billion dollar corporations in promoting their businesses and ensuring that local dollars
remain in the community. Earlier this year, Moylan voted to require state agencies and
departments to prioritize American-made and Illinois-made products when making purchases,
which would help use tax dollars to create jobs locally instead of padding the profits of out-of-
state and foreign corporations.

A day that was first established in 2010, Small Business Saturday is an annual event to
encourage holiday shoppers to patronize small, local businesses. Small Business Saturday
succeeds Black Friday, and calls on residents to support these businesses through the course of
their holiday shopping.

According to the American Independent Business Alliance, every dollar spent at a small business
can bring $3.50 into the local economy, which is why Moylan is encouraging residents to shop
locally.

“This year, I fought to make it a priority for Illinois taxpayer dollars to go towards supporting
Illinois and American businesses and products,” Moylan said. “I will continue pushing economic
reforms that help lift-up the middle class and create local jobs.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is encouraging residents to shop at local restaurants, shops and other small businesses in their community during the eighth annual “Small Business Saturday” on Saturday, Nov. 25.

“When small businesses thrive, so do our local communities,” said D’Amico. “I shop at small businesses in my community not only because I know that my money is reinvested in our neighborhoods, but because they provide amazing goods and services that I can’t find anywhere else.”

Small Business Saturday is a nationwide initiative marked on the Saturday after Thanksgiving looking to lift up sales at the small businesses that compete with big box and online retailers during one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.  More information about Small Business Saturday and a list of local shops and stores is available at americanexpress.com/shopsmall.

“The small businesses in our community employ our friends and neighbors, donate money to local charities, sponsor little league teams and provide volunteer hours,” D’Amico continued. “During this holiday season, let’s return the favor.”

CHICAGO – State Rep. John D’Amico, D-Chicago, is encouraging residents to shop local this weekend in an effort to support small businesses during the holiday season rush that often benefits big-box stores over locally-owned shops.

“Small Business Saturday is a way to draw attention to the importance of small businesses in our community who struggle during the holiday season to compete with bigger chain restaurants and stores,” D’Amico said. “Places like Monastero’s that have been around for fifty years can often get overlooked, but it’s important that we take the time to support places like them and give our small businesses the opportunity to keep our local economic engine churning.”

Saturday, Nov. 26 will be the 7th annual Small Business Saturday, which was created to help small businesses compete with large retailers between the busy shopping days of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Shopping locally helps provide jobs for area residents, tax revenue, sponsorships for community groups, support for charities, and excellent personalized services.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They employ most people in this country and create the majority of jobs. But small businesses can’t compete with corporations who unfairly take taxpayer-funded incentives and then ship jobs overseas just so they can keep their prices down,” D’Amico said. “I believe that any company that ships American jobs overseas should refund its tax breaks. It’s time we close corporate loopholes in Illinois, and put small businesses on an even playing field with these big box retailers.”
For more information on Small Business Saturday, business owners and the public can visit www.smallbusinesssaturday.com. For more information on any state-related issues, please contact D’Amico’s full-time constituent service office at 773-736-0218 or johnd@ilga.gov.
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