Focus on Manatee: Plenty of opportunities to support local businesses during holiday season

As we head into the holiday season, it is a great time to reflect upon the many things for which we are thankful.

Personally, my family, health, rewarding career, friends and many opportunities to engage in the community top the list.

To all of our veterans and active duty military personnel, I offer a huge thank you for your service, courage and sacrifices.

While we will celebrate Veterans Day on Saturday, our veterans and their families deserve our support every day of the year.

The holiday season also reminds me of the opportunity each of us has to support businesses – and their employees – in our own backyard. The National Retail Federation predicts that holiday spending could increase by as much as 4 percent nationally over 2016. Imagine the local economic impact if everyone in Manatee County committed to “thinking local and shopping local” as they consider holiday purchases.

The Manatee Chamber is helping our community connect to local businesses in several ways during this holiday season.

On Wednesday, the Manatee and Sarasota chambers of commerce are hosting a major expo from 4-7:30 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center. It’s a fun, interactive way for local consumers to learn more about businesses in our area and their products and services.

There will be more than 150 exhibitor booths, food from a dozen area restaurants, door prizes, music, a grand prize drawing and more. The community is encouraged to attend. We look forward to shining a light on businesses and the consumers who support them.

Then on Saturday, Nov. 25, the Manatee Chamber will have more than 50 of our members involved in the national “Small Business Saturday” initiative. This day is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a kickoff to the busy holiday shopping season. Small Business Saturday is dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country.

We believe one of the best and easiest things we can do to strengthen our economy is to support local businesses. Small businesses drive economic growth, create jobs, stimulate innovation and provide a supporting role to large corporations. Indeed, they are the backbone of our economy.

Your Chamber is here to be a resource in locating local businesses. Please stop by our downtown Bradenton or Lakewood Ranch offices, give us a call at 941-748-3411, or use ManateeChamber.com as a way to receive referrals and connect locally.

I wish you a happy holiday season full of reasons to be thankful.

This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 8:35 AM with the headline "Focus on Manatee: Plenty of opportunities to support local businesses during holiday season."