Shop Local: Bronzeville neighborhood highlighted ahead of holiday shopping season

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS) --- The holiday shopping season is right around the corner. As you make your plans, officials want to remind you to shop local.

While the day after Thanksgiving or Black Friday is known as the kickoff to holiday shopping, it's important to remember the following day, known as Small Business Saturday. 

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is a co-sponsor of Small Business Saturday, which was founded by American Express in 2010. 

Friday, Members of SBA toured Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood and Bayshore Collective to highlight local businesses ahead of Small Business Saturday.

The tour included stops at America's Black Holocaust Museum, The Bronzeville Collective, and Sam's Place.

"I think it's super important to support small and local businesses, because we feel the effects of those dollars immediately as opposed to a big box corporation. You're going directly back into your community and it's important for folks to be able to pay their bills doing what they love to do, and you are directly supporting 30 individuals in the city that do that here," said Lilo Allen, co-founder of The Bronzeville Collective MKE.

Community members are encouraged to shop at local stores, restaurants and entertainment businesses this holiday season.

"SBA has an equity action plan to make sure that we reach business owners where they're at...from the bottom up to the middle out," said Geri Sanchez Agipay, SBA Great Lakes regional administrator.

Another stop on the tour was Maranta Plant Shop on MLK Drive.

"We are super excited about being included. Being a small business has its ups and downs, so to have that type of attention brought to our business and what we're trying to do here is super important to us," said Sinceree Dixon, Maranta Plant Shop assistant manager.

Last year, Small Business Saturday hit a record high nationwide of $23 billion. 

The goal is to have another record-high year and bring that support to the Milwaukee area.

Folks are encouraged to support small businesses online as well.