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(Northern Rockies News Service) Small businesses are reminding people to shop locally as the holiday shopping season kicks off this week.

Local communities around the country, including in Idaho, are readying for Small Business Saturday, which takes place the day after Black Friday.

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Jenn Hensley, executive director of the Downtown Boise Association, said small businesses donate 250 percent more to community causes than big businesses, and keep the money spent at them local.

"Sixty-eight of every $100 spent at a locally owned business stays in the community. That's compared to $43 spent at a national chain," Hensley pointed out. "So, $25 more stays here. We're supporting local causes when we shop local businesses. We're also keeping our money local."

Hensley noted there are more than 700 businesses in downtown Boise and 96 percent are locally owned. She argued small businesses provide a more curated shopping experience than big businesses. Downtown Boise has events planned to mark Small Business Saturday this weekend.

Up to 90 percent of new jobs are created by local businesses. Hensley emphasized shopping locally can also help address issues communities are facing, such as housing affordability.

"When you are shopping in those stores, you are directly addressing those issues," Hensley contended. "In the sense that you are keeping your dollars here locally with a person who lives in a house down the street, who supports your kid's soccer team, who shops at other local shops. And so it's really important that we support these folks."

Small Business Saturday has been around since 2010, as a counterpart to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which take place after Thanksgiving.