Small Business Week praises entrepreneurship

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for National Small Business Week, coming up on May 4.

The Small Business Administration has celebrated Small Business Week for over 60 years, acknowledging the contributions local entrepreneurs offer.

The week will have several events aimed at helping small business owners, whether that's drawing in new customers or teaching them a new skill.

"Small Business Week really has a couple of purposes," said Kristi Bailey, the director of communications and marketing for the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. "One is to serve as a way to educate small businesses on topics that are important to them...the second purpose is to expose new customers to their small business."

Small Business Week is dedicated to small business owners, but shoppers can get in on the fun with chances at prizes and new adventures.

"We're doing a couple different things that are kind of fun, like a photo contest one day," Bailey said. "So it's you take a picture and tag yourself at the local business and you can win a gift card to a local business."

Bailey said she is most looking forward to attending the Social Media Strategies workshop and treating herself on Self-Care Saturday.

"We're encouraging people to schedule a nail appointment and a massage," she said. "So I'll probably do one of those things, too."

Small Business Week will go from May 4 to 10. For a complete list of the week's activities and workshops, visit the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at facebook.com/saintjosephchamber.