Sumter City leaders proclaim National Small Business Week and urge residents to shop local

Sumter City Mayor David Merchant and Jim McCain, chairman of the Sumter County Council, used a joint proclamation to recognize National Small Business Week and urged residents to shop at local stores and dine at hometown restaurants.

"They're the backbone of our local community," Jim McCain said, describing small businesses as job creators and frequent sponsors and volunteers for community activities. McCain called on residents to support local merchants during the week-long observance.

Frank Schuler, who said he heads the small business council for the Chamber of Commerce and has owned a local business for more than 30 years, said he has worked as a business attorney helping entrepreneurs start and grow companies. "The small businesses in Sumter City are the backbone of our community," Schuler said, and he encouraged residents to "get out there and support our businesses."

JT Duke, who identified himself as a vice president, said local partners are "shining a light on our small businesses because they are the backbone of our community" and expressed pride in his organization's role as a local service partner.

The statements were largely promotional and informational: officials urged residents to prioritize neighborhood businesses but did not announce new funding, ordinances or formal actions. The remarks closed with an explicit call to "shop local" and to promote small businesses throughout the week.