ICYMI: Salem Mayor Declares Free Parking over Thanksgiving Weekend

From the City of Salem

Salem, Massachusetts – Mayor Kim Driscoll today announced the City of Salem’s participation in the seventh annual Small Business Saturday. Falling between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate and support the small, independently-owned businesses that help boost local economies across the country.

“As the holiday season approaches, I hope all Salem residents will shop local first and support our small businesses,” said Mayor Driscoll. “I am pleased to once again participate in Small Business Saturday and celebrate our local small businesses throughout Salem.”

Small Business Saturday was created in 2010 in response to small business owners’ most pressing need: more customers. Since its inception, Small Business Saturday has served as the ceremonial kickoff to the busy holiday shopping season for small, independently-owned businesses. Last year more than 95 million consumers shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday.

In recognizing the importance of supporting independent businesses in Salem, Mayor Driscoll has issued a proclamation designating Saturday, November 26, as Small Business Saturday. In addition, the City will once again offer free parking at all City garages, parking lots, and meters from November 24 through November 27, to help encourage downtown shopping.

Similar to last year, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP), a non-partisan small business advocate and operational arm of the Small Business Saturday Coalition, is rallying mayors across the country to show their support and help encourage their local communities to shop small on November 26, 2016.

“In 2015, elected officials in all 50 states and Washington D.C. championed Small Business Saturday which helped drive consumers to shop at small, independently-owned businesses on the day,” said Jason Lalak, vice president of WIPP. “This year, we are further expanding our outreach to Mayors across the country to rally their communities and support their local small businesses throughout the holiday season.”

Salem’s small businesses can access toolkits and other resources to participate in Small Business Saturday by WIPP, on behalf of the Small Business Saturday Coalition. Additional information about Small Business Saturday is available at: www.ShopSmall.com.