On Saturday, many Northeast Michiganders joined others across the country in celebrating Small Business Saturday by turning to small, independent stores for their holiday shopping needs.

According to American Express, which spearheaded the event, shoppers spent $23.3 billion on Small Business Saturday last year, up from $19.8 billion the year before.

That’s great news. Small businesses add mightily to the fabric of the community. Not only are they run by our friends and neighbors, they employ other of our friends and neighbors, and they add to the quality of life of living in any town by offering unique wares and adding life to our downtowns and other business districts.

They also contribute greatly to our local economy. Nationwide, they account for about 44% of all economic activity and create most of the jobs in the country, according to the Small Business Administration.

That’s why we hope the small business shopping continues throughout the holiday season.

Shopping local supports local, and we hope every reader will turn at least once to a small Northeast Michigan business to complete your holiday shopping list.

The News could be part of that. We’re offering for sale our annual Northeast Michigan-themed Christmas bulbs, along with Sunrise Strong T-shirts, locally themed suncatchers, and locally themed Christmas cards. Subscribers get a discount.

Shop local throughout the holiday season to support your community, your friends, and your neighbors.