Finger Lakes and Upstate New York, November 30, 2025
On November 29, communities in the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York participated in Small Business Saturday, showcasing the importance of local businesses. These enterprises, making up 98% of New York’s businesses, play a vital role in job creation and economic sustainability. Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to support these establishments, especially during the crucial holiday season. This annual event highlights how consumer spending at local shops circulates money within the community and helps preserve neighborhood character, particularly in rural areas.
Small Business Saturday Highlights Vital Role in Finger Lakes, Upstate New York
Canandaigua, NY – On November 29, 2025, communities across the Finger Lakes and Upstate New York celebrated Small Business Saturday, emphasizing the significant impact of locally owned businesses on the region’s economy and community life.
Economic Impact of Small Businesses
Small enterprises—including retailers, restaurants, family farms, and service providers—constitute 98% of all businesses in New York State and employ nearly 40% of the private-sector workforce. Nationwide, small businesses account for nearly half of all private-sector jobs and have fueled more than half of net job creation over the last decade. Supporting these businesses helps sustain other nearby businesses, employees, and services, which is especially important in rural and small-city areas like much of the Finger Lakes. Independent shops and eateries serve as economic and social anchors in these communities.
Significance in the Finger Lakes Region
In towns such as Penn Yan, Geneva, Auburn, Canandaigua, Newark, and numerous smaller communities, locally owned businesses help preserve neighborhood character and strengthen economic resilience. These businesses rely heavily on holiday-season purchases to stabilize cash flow and maintain staffing. For many, the final weeks of the year can determine whether they start 2026 in a strong or precarious position. The Finger Lakes economy is uniquely tied to small enterprises, including wineries, farms, boutiques, cafés, breweries, barbershops, independent professionals, and artisans. When residents spend locally, more of that money circulates among regional workers, growers, and suppliers, keeping the local economy healthier.
Statewide Encouragement to Support Local Businesses
Governor Kathy Hochul encouraged New Yorkers to support local businesses during the holiday shopping season, highlighting the critical role small businesses play in building vibrant communities across the state. She emphasized that every purchase at a local shop or family-owned business ripples through neighborhoods, creating jobs and opportunities that strengthen the fabric of communities. Governor Hochul also noted that small businesses represent 98% of all New York State businesses and support 40% of the private-sector workforce. By shopping locally, New Yorkers invest revenue and tax dollars back into their communities, support jobs, and further promote regional economic growth. Residents can also explore Taste NY markets and online storefronts to find products sourced from New York farms and food and beverage producers.
Small Business Saturday’s Role in Economic Boost
Since its launch in 2010, Small Business Saturday has grown into an important part of the holiday season. Shoppers spent an estimated $22 billion at small businesses nationwide last year—a critical infusion during the most competitive retail period of the year. For many Upstate retailers, restaurants, and makers, increased visibility and customer traffic this weekend can help offset rising costs, supply-chain challenges, and tight margins that small operators continue to face.
How to Support Local Businesses
State leaders and economic development officials are urging New Yorkers to make deliberate choices that support local entrepreneurs. Options include shopping at small retailers, buying gift cards, visiting farmers’ markets, dining locally, choosing locally made goods, and sharing recommendations on social media. Residents can also explore Taste NY markets and online storefronts to find products sourced from New York farms and food and beverage producers.
Conclusion
Small Business Saturday serves as a reminder that strong main streets depend on the decisions residents make every day. Supporting small businesses is one of the most direct ways to strengthen the Finger Lakes economy heading into 2026.
FAQ
What is Small Business Saturday?
Small Business Saturday is an annual event that encourages consumers to support small, locally owned businesses during the holiday shopping season. It was launched in 2010 and has since become an important part of the holiday season, with shoppers spending an estimated $22 billion at small businesses nationwide last year.
How do small businesses impact the Finger Lakes economy?
Small businesses in the Finger Lakes region—including wineries, farms, boutiques, cafés, breweries, barbershops, independent professionals, and artisans—help preserve neighborhood character and strengthen economic resilience. When residents spend locally, more of that money circulates among regional workers, growers, and suppliers, keeping the local economy healthier.
What are some ways to support local businesses during the holiday season?
To support local businesses, consider shopping at small retailers, buying gift cards, visiting farmers’ markets, dining locally, choosing locally made goods, and sharing recommendations on social media. Additionally, exploring Taste NY markets and online storefronts can help you find products sourced from New York farms and food and beverage producers.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Event | Small Business Saturday |
| Date | November 29, 2025 |
| Location | Finger Lakes and Upstate New York |
| Governor’s Encouragement | Support local businesses during the holiday season |
| Economic Impact | Estimated $22 billion spent at small businesses nationwide last year |
| Support Methods | Shop at small retailers, buy gift cards, visit farmers’ markets, dine locally, choose locally made goods, share recommendations on social media |
Now Happening on X
- @MarcMolinaro (November 29, 2025): Highlights the essential role of local small businesses and family farms in sustaining Upstate NY communities and the economy, drawing from personal experience. View on X
- @EliseStefanik (November 29, 2025): Celebrates Small Business Saturday, emphasizing her background in a small business family and her advocacy for NY small businesses as key economic drivers. View on X
- @TND (November 29, 2025): Reports on Governor Hochul urging New Yorkers to support small businesses this holiday season for their role in job creation and community strength, with Small Business Saturday on November 29. View on X
- @weartv (November 29, 2025): Shares Governor Hochul’s encouragement for New Yorkers to back small businesses during the holidays, underscoring their importance to local jobs and communities. View on X
- @newschannelnine (November 29, 2025): Covers Governor Hochul’s call to support small businesses as “engines of opportunity,” noting their vital contributions to New York’s economy and communities. View on X
- @StarTribune (November 29, 2025): Discusses how Uptown merchants, after tough years, view the holiday season as crucial for recovery and success. View on X
- @Local3News (November 29, 2025): Encourages starting holiday shopping with Thanksgiving leftovers, promoting Small Business Saturday and local Christmas tree farms. View on X
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