It's normally recognized for the month of October nationally but the city of Swift Current will shine a light on small businesses this week.

The Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce attended a September 21 city council, where the city proclaimed October 1 to October 9 as Small Business Month Week.

Chamber CEO Karla Wiens said, during her presentation to council, she believes it's more important now than ever before to celebrate small businesses.

"These businesses employ our family and friends," she said. "Provide services to our residents and visitors, support our fundraising activities with prizes and donations, and absolutely deserve recognition and appreciation."

Swift Current city councillor and partner at Standard Motors Ryan Plewis expanded on Wiens' messages to council and the public.

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and will continue to be," he said. "Any opportunity we can have as a council or a public government to shed a little bit of light on things that small business goes through, I think is an opportunity that is well struck upon."

According to Wiens over 400 businesses are represented by the Swift Current & District Chamber of Commerce. Her memo to any member or non-member business in the area currently struggling, is to reach out to the chamber for assistance.

"We are here as a resource to provide information or direct you," she said. "Our goal is to promote our entire business community. Our office line is open, we're working... We encourage communication, if we can help in any way shape or fashion we commit to doing so."