The Crossville City Council signed a proclamation declaring Saturday Nov. 3oth to be Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday was started by American Express and cosponsored by the Small Business Administration in 2011 in an effort to support and raise awareness of local businesses.

American Express put together a service to let people find local businesses via a website map found here: https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/

Those who own small businesses can also find free marketing material here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/merchant/shop-small/materials.html

The proclamation reads:

“Whereas, the City of Crossville, Tennessee, celebrates our local small businesses and the contributions
they make to our local economy and community; and,

Whereas, according to the United States Small Business Administration, there are 34.7 million small
businesses in the United States, small businesses represent 99.7% of firms with paid employees, small
businesses are responsible for 61.1% of net new jobs created since 1995, and small businesses employ
45.9% of the employees in the private sector in the United States, and,

Whereas, 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business in the U.S. stays in the local community and
every dollar spent at small businesses creates an additional 48 cents in local business activity as a
result of employees and local businesses purchasing local goods and services; and,

Whereas, 59% of U.S. consumers aware of Small Business Saturday shopped or ate at a small,
independently owned retailer or restaurant on Small Business Saturday 2023; and,

Whereas, the City of Crossville, Tennessee, supports our local businesses that create jobs, boost our
local economy, and preserve our communities; and,

Whereas, advocacy groups, as well as public and private organizations, across the country have
endorsed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as Small Business Saturday.

Now, Therefore, I, R.J. Crawford, Mayor of the City of Crossville, Tennessee, do hereby proclaim,
November 30, 2024, as,
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

And urge the residents of our community, and communities across the country, to support small
businesses and merchants on Small Business Saturday – celebrating its 15th year in 2024 – and Shop
Small throughout the year.”