As a supporter of Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, the Richmond Hill/Bryan County Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to support small businesses by doing some holiday shopping on Nov. 24 at locally-owned small businesses.

“Small businesses are the foundation of our economy – half of America’s workers either own or work for a small business. Small Business Saturday is an opportunity to show our support for our friends and neighbors who throughout the year are growing our local economy, as well as supporting many local initiative and organizations,” said Dallas Daniel, RHBC Chamber chairman.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, there were 28.8 million small businesses in the United States last year. Over the past two decades, they created 65 percent of net new jobs.

For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures, according to the small-business advocacy group, The 3/50 Project.

Local sales generate local taxes, which are used for basic government services such as fire and police protection, road repairs, parks and recreation services.

Small Business Saturday is an official event of “Holly Days on the Hill.” For more information regarding Small Business Saturday and/or Holly Days on the Hill events, visit facebook.com/HollyDaysOnTheHill or call 912-756-3444.