In an effort to support local small businesses, Surry County Economic Development Department is enticing shoppers to support small businesses and participate in their “Shop Surry! Be Local, Buy Local” campaign.

Shoppers in Surry County will have the chance to enter into a drawing to win a “Local Gift Bag” that will include items from participating Surry County businesses. To enter the contest, participants are to bring receipts from purchases between the dates of Small Business Saturday, Nov. 27 through Dec. 15, 2021, from the participating Surry County businesses to the Economic Development building located at 203 Church St., Surry. Surry County Economic Development will verify your receipt and then place your name in the drawing. A drawing will take place on Dec. 17, and the winner will be contacted to claim their Local Gift Bag.

The businesses that are participating are below:

• Bacon’s Castle Gift Shop
• 7-Eleven
• Johnson Brothers
• Anna’s Italian Restaurant
• Creative Works Café & Gallery
• Farmer Joe’s Greenhouse
• Just for Kicks Cupcakes & More
• Surry Quick Stop
• Hampton Roads Winery
• Meats of Virginia
• Smith’s Fort Gift Shop
• Surry Seafood Company
• Farmers United
• Surry Equipment
• Bacon’s Castle Supply

“Small businesses have been adversely impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we wanted to entice our citizens to support small, local businesses here in Surry County,” said Economic Development Director Yoti Jabri.

Per the Virginia Employment Commission, Surry County’s economy consists roughly of 95% small businesses. There are close to 31.7 million small businesses in the U.S., making up nearly 99% of U.S. businesses, per the Small Business Administration.

For more information, please contact the Economic Development Department at 757-294-5090.