According to the American Express website, Small Business Saturday was started by the financial company in 2010. The first Small Business Saturday was Nov. 27 of that year. In 2011, the U.S. Senate unanimously made the day official. The day celebrates small businesses and encourages supporting them and how they impact communities.

Whereas Black Friday tends to favor national brands and Cyber Monday focuses on online sales, Small Business Saturday supports local shops.

Has it been successful? Here's what to know about the relatively new consumer holiday. When is Small Business Saturday? Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

Since its establishment in 2010, the total reported U.S. spending at small businesses during Small Business Saturday is an estimated $201 billion.

After the madness of Black Friday, those who are still in the mood to shop can help out local entrepreneurs by shopping the following day.

For the holiday season in general, Downtown State College Improvement District provides free parking and CATA bus tokens through Jan. 4 with a few exceptions. Free meter and lot parking is available all day Thursday but event rates will be implemented for Friday, Saturday and Sunday because of the home Penn State football game.

Small businesses in and around Salem are offering deals for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday after Thanksgiving.

You're probably excited about tomorrow's Small Business Saturday sales, but when you visit a brick-and-mortar store, you also get a personal touch.

After Thanksgiving turkey, the holiday shopping season kicks into high gear with Black Friday. A small business advocate is reminding consumers to shop local for Small Business Saturday. Black Friday deals have already started in some places with online stores offering their own savings.