SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Savannah leaders are coming together to support and celebrate the small businesses that make the city what it is.

You might be amazed by the variety of products and services available in a local shop or the tasty food and drinks offered by a local restaurant. Small Business Week also focuses on educating entrepreneurs and providing them with the resources needed to keep their businesses running.

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bert Brantley stated that they recognize the challenges that business owners face and are eager to assist.

“It is tough. It’s the American dream, but it’s also your blood, your sweat and your tears,” Brantley remarked. “You will never find a small business owner who is not nervous about the future… That’s why this week it’s so important to celebrate and respect that risk our business owners take every day.”

No matter the industry, there are ups and downs to owning any small business. Jamie Pleta of Finches Sandwiches and Sundries in Thunderbolt knows that well.

“We had Hurricane Helene last fall that kind of destroyed us,” Pleta said. “We were out of power for about ten days. Then, we had the snowstorm in January that caught everyone off guard again – no power for about five days. If we lose one day… Even a half a day is paying a good chunk of our bills. No dollars are wasted.”

Mayor Van Johnson said local establishments are needed to support the economy in the area.

“Money spent locally stays local,” Johnson said. “Once it is spent here, they hire people who are local, and the money is reinvested back into the community.”

Over two-thirds of businesses in Savannah are considered small, meaning they have 500 employees or less.

Last year, those establishments hired 78% of the local workforce in the coastal empire, according to the chamber of commerce. Eight five percent of the chamber members are small or local.

For a list of Small Business Week events, click here.