SPOKANE, Wash.—Small Business Saturday, a national celebration to recognize the immense value that small businesses bring to communities across the country, is Nov. 29 this year. The Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is joining in the celebration and urges all Washingtonians to shop local this holiday season.
“Small businesses make Washington communities more vibrant, innovative and resilient,” said Sheryl McGrath, state director of the Washington SBDC. “From coffee roasters in Spokane to bookstores in Lakewood to entertainment venues in Bellingham or retail shops in Vancouver, small businesses shape the character of our towns and cities and make Washington a great place to live and work.”
Shopping local isn’t just about buying gifts or enjoying a great meal—it’s about connection. Every dollar spent at a small business stays closer to home, circulating through the local economy and supporting schools, public safety, and community services. According to research by the Small Business Administration, for every $100 spent at a local business, up to $68 stays in the community.
“This holiday season, we encourage everyone to discover the incredible products, services, and people that make Washington’s small business community so special,” McGrath said.
The Washington SBDC network is hosted by Washington State University and is administered through a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Small Business Administration and WSU. About half of the SBDC budget is from the SBA and the other half is from state and local funding partners, which makes it possible for the SBDC to provide no-cost, confidential, customized, technical assistance to entrepreneurs working to start, grow or buy/sell a business.
In 2024, the Washington SBDC provided more than 30,000 hours of one-on-one assistance to more than 3,600 entrepreneurs and business owners, helping them to start more than 250 new businesses and create or save nearly 2,000 jobs. Those business owners also reported accessing more than $51M in capital with the assistance of their SBDC advisor.
To learn more about the Washington SBDC and how it supports entrepreneurs statewide, visit www.wsbdc.org.
