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SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY—Congressman Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) celebrated Small Business Saturday early this week by visiting locally owned businesses and meeting with the workers who keep these shops going. During his visits, Tonko highlighted the economic potential of Capital Region shops, and encouraged residents to shop local this holiday season.

“Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and the ingenuity and diversity of our local entrepreneurs is a great source of pride for our Capital Region,” Congressman Tonko said. “We can express our thanks to these shops that add so much vibrancy and economic potential to our communities by buying local. What’s more, shopping at small businesses directly benefits all in our region, as each dollar spent has three times the economic impact on the community as buying from national chains. I thank our incredible small business owners for their hard work and dedication that continues to make our region a better place, and I encourage everyone to truly celebrate the holiday spirit of giving and shop small!

Tonko’s discussions with Capital Region businesses and stakeholders included:

• A meeting with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce along with stakeholders from Discover Saratoga, the City Center, the Downtown Business Association, the Preservation Foundation and other local organizations to learn more about their efforts to support small businesses and the greater community.
• A tour of Lyrical Ballad, a locally owned independent bookstore in downtown Saratoga Springs that has captivated locals and visitors alike since 1971 with its unique labyrinth of more than 200,000 new, used, and rare books.
• A tour of Willow Marsh Farm, a fifth-generation diversified family farm, uses this location to sell their own meat and dairy products as well as a wide variety of local produce, baked goods, candles, soaps, and much more.
• A visit to Burnt Hills Café, a multigenerational, Greek-American, family-owned diner that received federal support through the Paycheck Protection Program, Restaurant Revitalization Fund and other federal programs Tonko helped pass under the COVID rescue plan.

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