KANKAKEE, IL – To make sure that local dollars spent on holiday goods are supporting local jobs and small businesses, state Representative Kate Cloonen is joining the Small Business Saturday efforts and reminding residents to support the local economy by purchasing their groceries and presents from small businesses and neighborhood retailers this holiday season.

"Residents can help our community thrive economically by getting their holiday groceries and presents from small businesses or local retailers." Cloonen said. "By patronizing hometown stores, we can help sustain jobs and put our dollars to work for us. I encourage people to do their holiday weekend shopping in Grundy, Kankakee and Will counties."

Small Business Saturday is recognized annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a way of helping local merchants compete with big box retailers and online retailers during the busy holiday shopping season. For more information about the nationwide Small Business Saturday effort, please visit www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba_initiatives/small_business_saturday_2013.

Cloonen co-sponsored House Bill 1272, which helps promote Illinois-based retailers by designating the first Saturday of every month as Buy Illinois Products Day. The bill had bipartisan support in the House and Senate, and is now law. {article submitted}