LAREDO: There are around 5,000 local businesses in Webb County that generate about eight billion dollars a year, which goes straight back into our economy.
Small Business Saturday is an initiative that the Laredo Chamber of Commerce is a part of to help spread the word about purchasing and using local business, goods and services.
It’s about more than just shopping for Christmas gifts, but supporting other businesses like restaurants to give the local economy a good boost.
Border Foundary owner Pete Mims, says his family has been doing business here locally for over a century.
He tells us more on what it means to be local business and how they give back.
“Since we’ve opened we’ve been bringing in interns, and they work for us. We’ll take them to San Antonio. We’ll set up trips with our suppliers in San Antonio and we’ll go in a little car caravan and go see the meat packing place, the produce, the fish monger that we buy the fish from. So, they get a lot of hands on experience there”, said Mims.
Along with helping out and growing more professionals from his industry, Mims also employs local workers and participates in several local initiatives and events.
And according to the latest U.S. census figures, new local businesses are spring up up all the time.
Almost 2,000 business licenses were issued in Webb County last year.