Oh, those Black Friday deals. For some, the savings and dopamine rush that come with a purchase of a big-screen TV or gaming console are simply too great to resist. But those low prices do indeed come with a cost that many don’t realize — a cost that each year chips away at the local economy.

Saturday, Nov. 29, is Small Business Saturday, an annual promotion that highlights the great deals and offerings that can be found in our local businesses, while hopefully educating consumers about why shopping local is so important.

It began in 2010 as an initiative by the American Express company, which sought to push some foot traffic into small, locally owned businesses in towns across the nation.

In 2023, Alan Haut, the Small Business Administration’s North Dakota district director, said the 2

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