Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring November 29, 2025, as Small Business Saturday in Rockville, Maryland
end
Department
City Clerk/Director of Council Operations Office
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Mayor and Council read, approve, and present the proclamation to Marcely V. King, Founder & Creative Director MVK SCARF Jewelry & Sustainable Accessories.
Discussion
Small Business Saturday was launched by American Express in 2010. This is recognized each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
The most significant reason for consumers’ awareness to shop and dine at small, independently owned businesses on a special day is to support their communities.
This year, the City of Rockville is recognizing Small Business Saturday on November 30, 2024, and encourages residents to support small businesses across the City of Rockville.
33.3 million small businesses exist across the U.S. Small businesses employ 46.6 % of the workers in the private sector in the United States. Consumers in the United States say 90% of Small Businesses have a positive impact on their community and encourage them to Shop Small all year long.
$27.5 billion in SBA 7(a) loans were provided to small businesses.
21% of businesses are minority-owned.
16 million new business applications have been submitted since 2021.
Facts and Data on Small Businesses
According to the Census Bureau’s 2021 Annual Business Survey, about 21.4% of all employer businesses in 2020 were owned by women. The over 1.2 million women-owned businesses employed nearly 11 million people.
19.9% of businesses are minority-owned
The same Census Bureau survey reveals that nearly 20% of all employer businesses in 2020 were minority-owned businesses. Among those, Hispanic-owned businesses saw growth of a little over 8% from 2019 to 2020.
Data from the New American Economy shows that more than 21% of all U.S. business owners as of 2019 were immigrants. And as of 2017, immigrant-owned businesses employed 8 million people.
Before the pandemic, the Small Business Administration (SBA) reported that in 2019, small businesses accounted for 44% of the economic activity in the United States, created two-thirds of new jobs, and delivered 43% of the United States' Gross Domestic Product (GDP). For every dollar spent at a small business, American Express estimates that nearly $0.67 stays in local Communities. Many small businesses are still attempting to make up for revenue lost during the height of the pandemic.
Source: <https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/small-business/small-business-statistics>
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council present this proclamation annually.