MIDCOAST—As the Midcoast gears up for Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, hundreds of area small businesses are participating in American Express’s Small Business Saturday Nov. 30. Widely known as ‘Think Local, Shop Local, Buy Local’ the initiative aims to encourage people to make their holiday purchases from people in their own communities.

American Express has their own database on how to find the participating local businesses: shopsmallnow.americanexpress.com/ShopSmall#

The following businesses are participating in the American Express inititiative, and are also Affiliates with Penobscot Bay Pilot, helping us bring you free news, features and information, 24/7:

If you get hungry holiday shopping or need a housewarming gift of food or beverage:

• Fresh Restaurant & Bakery (Camden)
• Delvinos Grill and Pasta (Belfast)
• Graffam Brothers Harborside Restaurant (Camden)
• Good Tern Natural Foods Co-op (Rockland)

For gifts:

• Bubbles & BEAN Children’s Consignment (Camden)
• K2 Music (Camden)
• Danica Candleworks (Rockport)
• Loyal Biscuit (Rockland, Camden, Belfast)

For the full list of PenBayPilot.com Affiliates, click here.

Brian S. Hodges, development director for Camden, said in a press release, “The town of Camden is well aware of the importance small businesses play.  The mantra of ‘think local, shop local, buy local’ is critical in supporting the health and vibrancy of a community.  We continuously encourage residents and visitors alike  to patronize their locally owned businesses and hope they will participate in Small Business Saturday.”

For local business owners, keeping purchases local really can make a big difference in supporting local communities and the friends and neighbors that own businesses in them.

"Small Business Saturday is a great way to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities," said Heidi Neal, co-owner of Loyal Biscuit Co. in Rockland, Camden and Belfast. "We encourage everyone to spend the day shopping and eating at the small businesses in your community. Keeping your purchases local makes a world of difference to the communities you live in and helps support your friends and neighbors that own and work in small businesses. Pledge to shop small - it can really make a huge difference!"

The holidays are a great time to give gifts that reflect the local community and offer something unique and different from the large, chain stores and big box retailers.

“Smaller retail shops and businesses in our region make our economy work and deserve our support. Keeping shopping dollars here means jobs and services stay here too," said Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Staci Coomer in the release.

The Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to stop by a small business on Nov. 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and do your part to help make this one of the biggest shopping days of the year for small and local businesses.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com