The Saturday after Thanksgiving, which is Nov. 24, has been named Small Business Saturday in recognition of the important role small businesses play in their communities.

"Small businesses are key to a community's economic vitality and quality of life," said Brett Rogers, state director of the Washington Small Business Development Center (SBDC). "Small Business Saturday is an important reminder for all of us that shopping small businesses can bring big rewards."

The SBA Small Business Saturday website is at www.sba.gov/saturday. The site provides tips for holiday marketing, hiring temporary workers and gearing up for the holiday season. It also includes information for participating in Small Business Saturday.