A few years ago we made the decision to forego publishing the day after Thanksgiving so that our staff could spend the entire holiday at home with their families. Therefore, this is the last opportunity we have to remind you of another important event taking place this week.

American Express launched small Business Saturday on Nov. 27, 2010, as a way to promote the importance of shopping small and local.

The very next year, the United States Senate unanimously passed a resolution of support for the day, which is recognized each year on the Saturday following Thanksgiving and the day after Black Friday. In 2014, and estimated $14.3 billion was spent at small, independent businesses on SBS, and in 2015 roughly 95 million people shopped at small businesses on the designated day.

Why is supporting small business so important? Because small, independent businesses are owned, operated and employ our friends and neighbors.

The incomes and profits they generate tend to stay in the local community, supporting other local businesses and non-profit organizations. Small businesses are the backbone of our local tax base, generating important revenue that finds our schools and emergency services.

The Tidewater News, along with our partners at Real Country 101.7 WLQM, the Franklin-Southampton Area Chamber of Commerce and the lead sponsor of our local Small Business Saturday campaign, Franklin Southampton Economic Development Inc., are proud to support this important day for our local economy.

We hope that you will, too.