In the midst of the recession in 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday during Thanksgiving weekend to encourage people to do more of their holiday shopping at local businesses. The first Small Business Saturday was a success, and a year later, the Shop Small Movement gains momentum, local officials across the nation take notice and move to promote the day.
Now in its fourth year, the event aims to help bring together creative and entrepreneurial minds together in the Bronx. There are people who have come to the Summit, literally met there, and now they're doing long-term work together. I know some people found their photographers and videographers from the summit, said Brooks. We've also been able to see really strong partnerships build through the networking at the Summit because there's panels and workshops, but there's also the networking piece which is really invaluable.
The funding is allocated across three programs: the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant (CFIG) received $100,000, the Commercial Buildout Improvement Grant (CBIG) received $75,000, and the Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant (MDCG) received $25,000. These grants aim to enhance storefronts, improve building interiors, and boost digital marketing efforts for businesses in downtown Decatur. "The success of this program over the last two years has proven that demand remains high and our local business owners are committed to continuous improvement," said Conor McNally, DDA chair.