Shaheen Statement Ahead of Small Business Saturday

(Manchester, NH) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, issued the following statement ahead of Small Business Saturday, which takes place this weekend – Saturday, November 27th. Occurring during one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, Small Business Saturday aims to encourage Americans to buy from and support local small businesses.

Shaheen was in Dover this week visiting local small businesses – including The Sassy Biscuit Co., Noggin Factory Toy Shop and Lickee’s & Chewy’s Candies and Creamery – as part of a downtown walk to encourage families to shop local.

“Small Business Saturday is always an important reminder to invest in our communities by shopping local. The COVID-19 pandemic put unprecedented pressures on our small business community, forcing many to close, lay off staff and adapt to difficult virtual settings. I enjoyed visiting some staple local shops in Dover in-person this week – a sign that we’re slowly turning the page on the pandemic – but many challenges remain,” said Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Small Business & Entrepreneurship Committee. “I’m committed to bringing the voices of Granite State business owners with me to Congress to ensure they have the resources needed to stay open and keep workers employed. The President’s Build Back agenda, which the Senate will negotiate soon, is key to helping our business community become whole again. As the backbone of New Hampshire’s economy, local businesses deserve every support possible to get to the other side of this crisis. I hope New Hampshire families get out there and remember to shop local this weekend, but also throughout the holiday season and year-round!”

Shaheen worked to provide small businesses with the resources they need to weather and recover from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. She helped lead negotiations on provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act that was signed into law in 2020 to assist small businesses, which established the Paycheck Protection Program. More than 41,000 New Hampshire small businesses and non-profits received over $3.7 billion in PPP assistance.  

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