Support Local Small Businesses – Shop Small on November 30
Pennsylvania is a state of small businesses, with our one million small businesses forming the bulk (more than 99%!) of our business economy. How have so many small businesses found success here? There are a variety of factors, but it’s largely a combination of our welcoming communities, flourishing main streets, state support and assistance, robust higher-education programs — and, of course, a large dose of Pennsylvania pride. In fact, we often hear from owners that running a small business in Pennsylvania is the key to working smart and living happy — two goals that countless residents here continue to achieve. Small business owners often testify to the many personal benefits of entrepreneurship, including the ability to pursue a passion, the opportunity to work alongside family, and the means to operate with creative freedom and flexibility.
Each year, we join the national Small Business Saturday initiative in celebrating our small businesses’ contributions to our communities, encouraging Pennsylvania consumers to support their own local businesses, and highlighting the resources available to both current and aspiring small business owners. The upcoming holiday season offers an excellent opportunity to support the commonwealth’s hardworking businesses. I encourage you to shop local, eat local, and play local — not just on Small Business Saturday, November 30 — but all year long. If you’re not sure where to start, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office can help.
Pennsylvania is full of incredible small towns and main streets that offer something for everyone, no matter where you’re located — or what’s on your gift list. Visit the world’s oldest bookstore, Moravian Book Shop, on Main Street in Bethlehem. Grab a locally crafted beer at Yards Brewing Company in Philadelphia, which recently opened a brand-new facility. Shop for a beautiful handmade watch at Mount Joy’s RGM Watch Co., one of the few watchmakers in the country that manufactures its own watches — a quarter of which are custom. Or stop into Gilson Boards in Winfield to see locally sourced and manufactured snowboards as they’re crafted in the Appalachian Foothills. Don’t forget to purchase unique chocolates and candies for your holiday gifting at nonprofit Highland Chocolates, which works to empower those with disabilities by offering vocational training and employment for 20 adults every year.
We thank you for joining us in support of our one million local small businesses this November. And if you’re interested in starting your own business, DCED can help! Read our Entrepreneur’s Guide and learn more about the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop — the go-to resource for entrepreneurs aspiring to work smart and live happy by launching a small business in Pennsylvania.
Don’t forget to join the conversation on November 30 and post a photo of your small business support on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, using the hashtags #SmallBizSat and #PASmallBiz.
Neil Weaver has two decades of experience in non-profit and government management, operations, and communications. During his career, Neil has served in executive management at both the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and the Department of Environmental Protection. In his current role as Acting Secretary at DCED, Neil functions as the chief executive of an agency that is responsible for administering grants, loans and tax credits that spur economic growth, community revitalization, and job creation throughout the state by providing strategic technical assistance, training, and financial resources to help our communities and industries flourish.
