Billings Chamber Of Commerce: This Is Small Business Appreciation Week!

Press release from the Billings Chamber of Commerce:

May 3, 2021

After a year of turbulence, the Billings Chamber is thrilled to celebrate 2021 Small Business Appreciation Week May 3rd- 7th. Small businesses are crucial to the local economy: there are more than 30.7 million of them in the United States accounting for 99.9% of all U.S. businesses. Specific to Billings and the chamber, our membership of over 1,100 businesses is made up of over 80% small businesses. We call them small, but they are definitely mighty!

What is a small business? The Small Business Administration defines a small business as a firm which has fewer than 500 employees. This means many of the businesses within the Billings region – even some that seem large to most – are considered a small business.

Small Business Appreciation Week was created to celebrate and show appreciation to these businesses. The shops who sponsor our little league teams, donate to non-profits, fundraisers and raffles, who give to the Go Fund Me campaigns arranged for our community members in need. Small businesses show up, even when they’re down. We saw how the COVID-19 pandemic devastated many small businesses and the Chamber is creating opportunities for everyone to show up and show appreciation for all they do.

We are kicking off Small Business Appreciation Week with Billings Chamber President and CEO John Brewer, along with Colin Sauskojus of Rail Line Coffee, Stephanie Elumbaugh of Adult Resource Alliance of Yellowstone County, and Xiaoyi Wang with Job Service Billings.

We are grateful to our presenting sponsors, KULR8 and PayneWest Insurance. Without their support and investment, this event would not be possible.

KULR8 News

PayneWest Insurance

Interviews with Local Small Business Owners

Every business has a story, and we can’t wait to share some of them with you! Watch these interviews with some of our Chamber members and learn how these businesses impact you and our community.

Chamber Member Spotlights

Throughout the week we are highlighting 10 Chamber Member businesses. You will learn what they do, what they offer, and how you can support them. Take some time to hear their stories and learn how these businesses support our economy and how you can support them!

Wegner Roofing Member Spotlight

Small Business Appreciation Week Blogs

Celebrating Small Business Champions during Small Business Appreciation Week
By John Brewer, President/CEO Billings Chamber

Pursuit of Billings Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Small businesses are what make any community unique, and Billings is no exception. We have created an engaging opportunity to support these businesses while being entered in to win a grand prize bundle.

Each day a clue will be posted to the Billings Chamber Facebook page. The clues will also be announced on KULR8 during their early morning and evening news broadcasts. If you guess correctly in the social media comments, you will receive one point. If you post a picture of you at the correct location, you will received five points. On Monday, May 10th we will announce the first and second place winners of the Pursuit of Billings Virtual Scavenger Hunt. The prize bundles are amazing and will absolutely be worth your time and attention!

Do not miss opportunity to test your detective skills and visit some of Billings’ best and most unique small businesses!

Fun Facts about the Small Business Community

While we all love to get out and support the incredible small businesses we have in Billings, it’s also important to learn why they are so important. Follow along on our social channels to learn and share interesting facts about small businesses.

Instagram Reel Challenge

Instagram Reels are a fun and engaging way to discover and create short, entertaining videos on Instagram. The Billings Chamber challenges your business to create a Reel about your favorite small businesses in Billings. Just post your Reel to Instagram, tag @billingschamber and use #ShopBillings. Get out there and spotlight the best of the best in Billings!

Small Business Appreciation Week is a way for us all to show gratitude for the innovative small businesses who fought their way through an amazingly difficult year. And, it’s also an opportunity for all of us to get together around a common theme while still being safe and responsible. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn, engage, win prizes, and show appreciation for the businesses that make Billings great! Thank you for joining the Billings Chamber during Small Business Appreciation Week May 3 – 7!

This press release was produced by the Billings Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the author’s own.