The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) encourage Chicago residents and visitors to support the local economy by thoughtfully spending at local small businesses. Local community and economic development organizations-such as chambers of commerce, community development corporations, and other not-for-profit organizations-have created holiday campaigns to enliven commercial corridors across the city. The holiday shopping season unofficially kicks-off during Thanksgiving weekend with dedicated days like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday. An estimated 166.3 million people are planning to shop from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday this year, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics. Saturday, November 26th is a notable shopping day with tens of thousands of Chicago small businesses offering a variety of exciting options to holiday shoppers. The campaign provides safety and consumer awareness information for passengers of taxicabs, ride-hail, and other public passenger vehicles. Visit Chicago.gov/RideSmart for tips, including how to spot licensed versus unlicensed taxicabs. BACP also wants to remind businesses and consumers to be diligent about their rights and responsibilities whether shopping in-person or online. Learn more by visiting Chicago.gov/ConsumerProtection. For current and future small business owners looking for support, BACP offers resources to support all small business owners throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. For more information on BACP’s programs and services, visit Chicago.gov/BACP.