CHARLESTON — Small Business Saturday may have been founded by one of the largest credit card companies in the U.S., but the spirit to support local is strong, especially in the Lowcountry.

American Express originated the idea in 2010 to encourage consumers to shop small during the holiday season. It gained government support a year later when the U.S. Small Business Administration became a co-sponsor.

In the Charleston area, supporting small makes the economy tick.

For every dollar spent in a local establishment, about 67 percent stays in the community, supporting neighborhood families and helping to “preserve the personality” that makes this area so special, said Matt Brady, economic development director for the Town of Mount Pleasant.

“Supporting local businesses is one of the most p

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