Today is Small Business Saturday, a holiday shopping tradition that happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Founded by American Express in 2010, this nationwide movement helps bring attention to the importance of supporting small businesses in communities across America.

There are 388,850 small businesses in operation across Alabama, which make up 99.4 percent of all the businesses.

“Small Business” is defined as a firm employing fewer than 500 employees.

From local restaurants to the paint store down the street, small businesses have created major impacts across all communities.

In fact, 8,971 new jobs were created in Alabama in 2014 alone, meaning that 48.10 percent of all employees in Alabama were working for a small business that year.

Earlier this week Kay Ivey signed a proclamation for Nov. 25th formally declaring the day as Small Business Saturday in Alabama.

“Small Business Saturday is a wonderful opportunity for Alabamians to support local businesses on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving,” Gov. Ivey said, “Small businesses have been recognized as the economic engine for job growth, economic stability and helps preserve neighborhoods across Alabama and the nation.”