They may be small, but have a huge impact

Our annual plea to support small businesses is extremely important as the explosion in inflation has made it difficult for them to set prices low enough for people to afford. With the previous Trump administration and the Biden administration overdoing it on the stimulus money, suddenly everyone had money to blow on goods and services that weren't available. Manufacturing and overseas shipping took a major hit during the pandemic, so when the two started to come back, people were buying everything they could get their hands on, pushing inflation up to levels not seen in decades.

As we celebrate the 2024 holiday season, the economy has begun to straighten out. Inflation is down to the target of about 2% annual target of the Federal Reserve, which has begun reducing interest rates. So, we're finally at the point where small businesses can survive, but still need you, dear consumer, for that. The U.S. Small Business Administration is urging everyone to help the more than 34 million small businesses in the U.S., embracing the spirit of the holiday season by supporting local small businesses on Small Business Saturday, an annual event founded by American Express and celebrating its 15th anniversary. Nov. 30 is a good day to map out a list of small businesses to shop. If you need help, peruse the pages of this periodical since small businesses' advertising is what keeps us afloat. By-the-way, according to the SBA's definition of a small business is a firm with less than 100 employees, we're one, too. The SBA's Season of Small Business will continue through December and encourages consumers to support small businesses throughout the holiday season. During the Biden-Harris Administration, the U.S. has experienced a small business boom with nearly 20 million new business applications filed nationwide, driven mostly by women and people of color, according to the SBA. Hometown News has been proud to support Small Business Saturday since 2011 to help drive consumer spending at independently owned small businesses in the wake of the financial crisis.

The day is dedicated to celebrating local businesses that create jobs, help boost the economy and enhance neighborhoods around the country. According to American Express, the projected total reported spending among U.S. consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday since its founding has reached an estimated $201 billion. *** Just a couple of big real estate deals to mention, but one was huge. House of David Preservation of Kansas City, Mo., bought the Central Manor Senior Apartments at 136 Fairview Ave. in Daytona Beach for $24.25 million. CM is possibly the oldest senior apartments in Daytona, built in 1979. Probably in a financing move, an entity named Mermaid Borrower of Austin, Texas, paid about $12.2 million to AH Arlington Heights LLC for the 35 lots of the new Oak Grove subdivision off Pine Street in DeLand. *** Some miscellaneous items include construction starting soon on a Take 5 Oil Change place at 3730 S Nova Road, Port Orange. The World's Most Famous Beach sign is getting close to going back up at East International Speedway Boulevard and Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach. A new name is going up at 1348 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach from Walmart Community Health to Walmart Specialty Pharmacy. Site work is starting for a Chase Bank at Tymber Creek Village on LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach. Vertical construction is starting on the Aldi store on Williamson Boulevard and Summer Trees Road in Port Orange. Lennar Homes seeking approval for a stormwater management system for a 168-lot single-family house subdivision, part of the Speedway West development at West International Speedway Boulevard and Grande Champion Boulevard in Daytona Beach. Managing Editor Cecil G. Brumley has been tracking business and the economy in Volusia County for more than 27 years. Contact him at [email protected] (no hyphens) or follow him on Twitter @cecilbrumley.