Voice of Business Blog

Small Business Week is an annual event that celebrates and supports small businesses across the United States. This year, Small Business Week will be held from April 30 through May 6, and it's an excellent opportunity for communities to come together and show their support for local businesses. In #GreaterROC, there are many ways to get involved and support the small businesses that make our community so vibrant. Greater Rochester Chamber has compiled the following five ways to support small business this week:

1. Browse the Greater Rochester Chamber member directory to find small businesses in the Greater Rochester region

Greater Rochester Chamber's membership of over 1,300 local companies contains companies of all sizes and plenty of small businesses to support. Search our member directory or browse by industry to find a small business in our community that you can buy to support a local, small business.

2. Support your favorite small businesses on social media

Your voice can be just as loud as your dollars in supporting small businesses. Post about your favorite small businesses on social media and let your networks know where you love to shop small so they support them as well. If you do, be sure to tag Greater Rochester Chamber so we can see and amplify as well! You can also leave a review for your favorite small businesses on Google, Facebook, or Yelp.

3. Network with other small business owners

Find opportunities to connect your business to small businesses in our community to continue to provide support to small businesses in our community all year long. The synergies in our community are our strength and allow for tremendous growth potential for not just individual companies, but for our region as a whole if we all lift each other up. Greater Rochester Chamber's Chamber CONNECT event series offers this opportunity to network, so keep an eye out for more dates coming soon. Business Made Social events also create this opportunity to come together in person at some of Rochester’s most up and coming venues.

4. Find minority-owned businesses in the community to support

Minority-owned businesses have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic and other social challenges throughout our history. We can all get involved to help support these vital organizations in our cultures and in our communities. Find a list of Black-owned businesses in Rochester on BOB Rochester's website and see more local veteran, women, and minority-owned businesses in the Greater Rochester Chamber Top 100 Awards magazine.

5. Support the Business Person of the Year Awards

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and its Small Business Council affiliate, host the Business Person of the Year Award annually. The Business Person of the Year Award recognizes for-profit business leaders who have demonstrated success in both civic and professional areas, specifically in the areas of growth, leadership, achievement, and community service. This award helps lift small businesses to new levels of success. Sponsorships are available to support this event and ticket sales are open to register and connect with the best business minds in Greater Rochester.

Small businesses are the backbone of our community, and supporting them during Small Business Week (and beyond) is essential to our local economy. By shopping local, dining at local restaurants, attending local events, spreading the word on social media, and volunteering, you can help make a positive impact in Rochester. Let's show our support for the small businesses that make our community so special!