It’s the Most Local Time of the Year!
As we enter the final months of 2021, the holiday season is upon us. Travel plans are made, gifts are purchased, and a strong sense of community is evident. It truly is a time to celebrate and express gratitude for so many people and what they do for Lincoln. The role local businesses play is also magnified throughout the holiday season. Whether big or small, local businesses continue to showcase our community to residents and visitors alike, highlighting what makes our community unique.
Throughout the final months of the year, there are countless opportunities to celebrate and support our local attractions, establishments, restaurants, and retail shops. At the Lincoln Chamber, we remain strong in our commitment to position our local businesses to thrive and grow in Lincoln. I hope you can take to heart a few ways to support local business to help them close 2021 on a high note.
This Thanksgiving weekend, we welcome another Small Business Saturday on November 27, one of the most impactful shopping days of the year. According to American Express, which started Small Business Saturday in 2010, in 2019 alone, $19.6 billion was spent on Small Business Saturday. The purchases made on this day continue to have great impacts on our local economy and are perhaps now more important than ever before.
Our Lincoln Expo attracted local businesses to Pinnacle Bank Arena last month for live networking opportunities to strengthen their business relationships. The Expo showcased Lincoln Chamber members spanning a variety of industries, providing Expo attendees the unique opportunity to get to know these businesses and what they’re all about. We look forward to this event every year and I can’t tell you how incredible it was to be back in person, celebrating Lincoln’s strong local business leaders and their passion for our community.
I continue to challenge everyone in our community to participate in our ongoing 1 Percent Pledge. Simply put, an additional one percent of annual expenditures going to local business makes a significant impact on our community and ensures our local businesses can keep their doors open and continue to grow and thrive in Lincoln. I invite you to sign the pledge at www.lcoc.com/one-percent-pledge. The result of this intentional spending continues to have a positive impact on our community as a whole, whether it is a business or individual that steps up to the challenge.
Finally, our website is full of resources to support your shop local efforts. At LCOC.com, our member directory not only has a full listing of our Chamber members but also identifies which businesses are locally-owned, minority-owned, woman-owned, or veteran-owned.
All five of our organizations—the Chamber, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lincoln Young Professionals Group, and Lincoln Specialty Care—have the shared vision of not only contributing to Lincoln business but also identifying ways to expand and magnify what makes Lincoln special at every turn. I know our local retailers are ready for the season, let’s continue to support them and make it a memorable end to 2021.