WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Renee Ellmers released the following statement from her office in Washington this morning:

"Over the holiday weekend, as millions of Americans head to the stores, I would like to encourage them to visit their local small businesses. As our economy struggles to recover, local businesses and their families have come to rely upon the support of their community to survive. Your patronage not only sustains our communities, but also provides thousands of Americans with jobs and opportunity."

Congresswoman Ellmers, who chairs the Small Business Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology, signed on to H.Res. 468 - which was introduced by Small Business Committee Chariman Graves in the House last week - to express support for the designation of a Small Business Saturday and increase awareness of the value of locally owned small businesses. Small Business Saturday is a national initiative that marks the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a day to support local businesses around the country. First there was Black Friday, then Cyber Monday. Now, Small Business Saturday is an event that drives shoppers to local, independently-owned merchants. The inaugural Small Business Saturday, held in 2010, galvanized support across the US: more than 1.2 million Facebook users, 130 small business advocacy groups, public and private organizations and government leaders joined in the initiative.

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For more information, please visit Congresswoman Ellmers’ website at www.ellmers.house.gov or call (202) 225-4531.

Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @RepReneeEllmers

Tom Doheny

Press Secretary

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers R-NC-2

Washington, DC