County Executive Marc Elrich urges residents to support Small Business Saturday, highlighting the importance of shopping locally for the economy and tax revenue in Montgomery County.
A U.S. Chamber of Commerce survey revealed that more than half of consumers prefer shopping at small businesses for their unique gifts, which are often unavailable at larger retailers. However, many consumers still shop online instead of visiting local stores.
In his weekly message posted last week, Elrich wrote:
Each year, the County tries to highlight some of the wonderful mom-and-pop businesses open on the Saturday following Thanksgiving. “Last year, I visited MegaMart, Kharis Lavender Farm, Omega 3 Nutrition, Twin Valley Distillers and the Maryland Women’s Business Center, a retail incubator for women venturing into entrepreneurship. These are only some of the visits I make during the year, which allow me to talk to owners and learn about the relationships they have built with our Business Center team.
After I was elected County Executive, we developed the Business Center to help local businesses, and especially to focus on the small business owners in need of guidance to help grow, expand or overcome hurdles. I want to make it easier to do business in Montgomery County. The focus and assistance provided by our Business Center team has allowed many operators to connect to the right resources and find the help they need to succeed.
Gov. Wes Moore is taking the same approach on the State level. His administration is focused on supporting small businesses, creating and retaining jobs and fostering growth. Gov. Moore recently announced that Maryland has been named the top state for minority-owned businesses in an analysis by Lending Tree. Maryland earned top 10 rankings in three of five Lending Tree metrics, including the percentage of minority-owned businesses in the State, the ratio of pay relative to all businesses and the longevity of business operations.
The vast majority of businesses in Montgomery County are small businesses. I hope you support Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving) and local businesses as you complete your holiday shopping.
Additionally, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation announced this week that it will provide free parking in county-owned garages on two significant shopping days: Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 30, and Super Saturday, the last Saturday before Christmas, on December 21.
Parking fees for on-street meters will continue to be enforced on those days.
“I am pleased that the County will offer free parking on Small Business Saturday and Super Saturday, which we know are some of the busiest times for holiday shopping,” Elrich said in a press release. “I hope this encourages residents to visit our independent retail stores and enjoy a festive meal or drink while supporting the local shops and restaurants that make Montgomery County a special place to live.”
In addition to Small Business Saturday, Super Saturday is the last major shopping day of the year and one of the busiest days for in-person shopping.
“We hope by offering free parking, residents and visitors will take the time to shop in person at some of our local businesses,” MCDOT Director Chris Conklin said. “And, of course, if you prefer to leave the car at home, our Ride On bus service is just $1 and offers service to all of our County’s major destinations.”
Additional information about parking facilities in Montgomery County can be found on the MCDOT website.
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