<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:trebuchet ms,sans-serif"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Local Media</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">November 16, 2020</span></p>
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SHOPPING THE BEST AT LOCALLY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin:0in;text-align:center;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><b><span style="font-size:13pt;line-height:115%;color:rgb(0,32,96)">Shop
Small Saturday Pivots to Small Business Season in Missoula</span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Small businesses are the
backbone of the Missoula-area economy, and many locally-owned small businesses
have been drastically impacted by the pandemic. This holiday season, all
Missoulians are encouraged to support our local economy and small businesses by
shopping and dining in Downtown Missoula during <b><i>Small Business Season</i></b>, and
the 2020 slogan for the campaign is “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is!”</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Small Business Saturday
was created in 2010 to encourage people across the country to support small
businesses. As a counter to Black Friday following the Great Recession, the Shop
Small Movement grew from one company’s promotion to a nationwide-movement to
support small businesses on Main Streets and in downtowns across America. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Missoulians have been
celebrating and supporting small, locally-owned businesses since the 1970s. However,
the last 15 years have seen a more finite focus on how small businesses - created
and sustained by local Missoulians - build strength, diversity, creativity and
sustainability in our local economy. A stronger localized economy, in turn,
helps protect and insulate our community from the impacts of a national
economic downturn. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Spending at
locally-owned small businesses keeps dollars circulating in our own community
and economy. Supporting our neighbors and friends who own local businesses supports
those who give time and time again to our local non-profits, schools, sports
teams and community initiatives. During times of crisis – such as the COVID
pandemic – supporting small businesses in Missoula means those businesses can
keep their doors open, their people employed and their families fed.</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">This year in Missoula Small
Business Saturday has transformed into <b><i>Small Business Season</i></b>, commencing on
Saturday, Nov. 21 and carrying on through Wednesday, Dec. 23. Downtown
businesses are extending hours of operation, offering special promotions, and
providing personal touches and connections along the way. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Alongside nearly 200
small restaurants and retail stores, the Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) will
be offering special gifts, discounts and prizes for those who join in the
movement to “Put Your Money Where Your Heart Is.” Shop & Dine Headquarters
will be at the corner of Higgins and Main on Saturdays from 10am-2pm on November
28, December 5, and December 12. Coupons for complimentary hot chocolate,
branded shopping bags and handouts on the Downtown specials will be available
for pickup in front of the MSO Hub at 140 North Higgins. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">“This is a critical time
for our Downtown bars, restaurants and retail stores,” said Bob McGowan,
President of the MDA Board of Directors. “We want our community to know this:
where they spend their dollars matters, and our neighbors and friends need our
spending now more than ever! Keeping Missoulians employed and our small
businesses open and paying the bills – while ensuring we do all we can to
prevent the spread of COVID – is really important. It’s up to us!</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">“Downtown businesses are
open and ready to serve our community,” McGowan added. “We are working together
to ensure people wear their masks appropriately in public spaces and stay six
feet apart. We have a lot of great holiday activities happening in Downtown
this year that will allow families and small groups of friends to enjoy
Downtown without mass gatherings.” </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Downtown businesses have
a multitude of shopping and dining options, including grab and go, curbside
pickup, private shopping appointments, pay-it-forward meals, gift cards, and
other promotions. For more information on specific specials during the Small
Business Season, follow Missoula Downtown on Facebook or Instagram or visit </span><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue">www.missouladowntown.com</a><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">.
</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">In addition to <b><i>Small
Business Season</i></b>, the Downtown Missoula Window Decorating Contest will
be open for public voting on Friday, Nov. 27 and continue on through Tuesday,
Dec. 15. Typically more than 30 Downtown businesses have entered to win one of
the six special awards, presented annually by the Missoula Downtown
Association, based upon public votes. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">Downtown Missoula will
also showcase new holiday lighting season, alongside the Festival of Trees
(Nov. 27-Dec. 6) and the REVERSE Parade of Lights on December 5. </span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;line-height:115%;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">For more information on
Small Business Season and other activities happening in Downtown Missoula,
visit </span><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com" style="color:blue">www.missouladowntown.com</a><span style="color:rgb(0,32,96)">,
or call the Downtown Missoula Partnership office at 406-543-4238. </span></p></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><font size="4" face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><b>Bram Moore</b></font></p><p style="margin:0px"><b><span style="font-size:13px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Operations Coordinator</font></span></b></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">Downtown Missoula Partnership </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif">218 E Main | Missoula, MT </font></p><p style="font-size:13px;margin:0px"><font face="trebuchet ms, sans-serif"><a value="+14065434238" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">406.543.4238 | </a><a href="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" title="http://www.missouladowntown.com/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">missouladowntown.com</a></font></p><div><br></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>