Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana Governor Mike Braun took time this week to highlight the vital role small businesses play in the state’s economy, signing a proclamation declaring Saturday, November 29, 2025, as Small Business Saturday in Indiana. The announcement serves as both a recognition of Main Street entrepreneurs and a call to action for Hoosiers to support local businesses during the busy holiday shopping season.
“Indiana’s Main Street businesses are the heartbeat of our communities and the engine of our economy. These entrepreneurs take risks, hire local workers, and strengthen the towns and cities they call home. If you’re going shopping after your Thanksgiving celebrations this week, I hope you’ll join me in shopping local at one of Indiana’s small businesses,” Governor Braun said in a statement. The Governor’s words reflect a long-standing emphasis on the power of locally owned businesses to foster jobs, encourage innovation, and create vibrant neighborhoods across the state.
Throughout his tenure, Governor Braun has made small business development a central focus of his economic agenda. In 2025, he launched the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to help founders start, grow, and scale their businesses. The office seeks to remove common obstacles, accelerate job growth, and ensure Indiana remains one of the best states in the nation to pursue the American Dream.
Over the past year, the Governor has visited dozens of thriving small businesses in communities ranging from Indianapolis to smaller towns across the state. These visits highlight the incredible diversity and resilience of Indiana’s entrepreneurs. With more than 591,000 small businesses statewide, they account for 99.4% of all businesses in Indiana and employ 1.2 million Hoosiers, representing 43% of the state’s workforce. These numbers underline the critical importance of supporting small business owners, particularly as the holiday shopping season begins.
Indiana’s small business sector is also among the nation’s strongest in terms of survival and growth. The state ranks in the top five nationally for small-business survival, with 84% of new businesses still operating after one year. Companies less than five years old generate 74% of all new job growth statewide, demonstrating that small businesses are not only the backbone of Indiana communities but also a major driver of economic opportunity.
Small Business Saturday, a national campaign, encourages citizens to invest in local entrepreneurs while exploring unique products and services that might not be available at larger retailers. For many Hoosiers, the day is a chance to shop for holiday gifts while directly supporting the people and families who keep their towns and cities vibrant.
Governor Braun’s proclamation emphasizes the importance of celebrating these entrepreneurs and investing in the local economy. By shopping at independent stores, residents can help sustain jobs, foster creativity, and keep money circulating within Indiana communities.
For those interested in seeing images of the Governor signing the proclamation or viewing past visits to local businesses, photos are available on the Governor’s official Flickr page.
Small Business Saturday in Indiana promises to be more than just a shopping day; it is a celebration of the vision, perseverance, and community impact of Indiana’s Main Street businesses. As Governor Braun encourages Hoosiers, supporting small businesses is a way to make a meaningful difference during the start of the holiday season.
