Small business Saturday kicked off with a proclamation read by Mayor Joe Schember at the Erie Art Museum, congratulating hundreds of downtown businesses for their continued success.

"A majority of the money they earn stays right here in Erie, and they actually earn a almost $0.50 per dollar more. In addition, with the money they they spend stays here in Erie", explained Mayor Schember.


New businesses rely on this day to help turn their passions into profits. Dawn Brown, the owner of Dawn's Grazing Creations said, "I always enjoyed charcuterie and I wanted to take it to another level and be able to share my creativity with the public."


Business owners said one of the best parts about supporting local is that all the money they earn stays in the Erie economy.
That's the case for Brown, "When you are supporting a small business here, you are helping to support their family and help bring profits in the different holidays to those families."


Just around the corner, larger businesses saw customers streaming in and out all day long. Warrick Bourke, the Store Manager for Erie Apparel said, "So it's awesome to see that the local community is embracing us as well and really wanting to support us. It just makes us really happy to be a part of it all."


Not only does the profits Erie Apparel makes stay in the downtown community, but it also leads to employment for Erie residents too. "Employing local individuals and just really trying to support the local economy and all those good things", said Bourke.


The Boston Store also had dozens of vendors taking part in the Erie Downtown Partnership's Small Business Saturday event.