Sometimes heroes are easily identifiable, like our emergency responders and soldiers. Other times, it’s more difficult to see heroic qualities in those around us. But after some reflection, there are, in fact, everyday heroes just around the corner at your local mom-and-pop shops.

Just recently, America celebrated National Small Business Week. There is plenty to celebrate when it comes to our small-business owners.

Despite the odds against them, especially those created by New York’s excessive regulation and taxation, small-business owners and entrepreneurs thrive in our communities, provide local jobs, and help create healthy and prosperous communities. Amazingly enough, small businesses employ nearly 43 percent of American workers. New York’s small businesses account for 98 percent of all business enterprises in the state and employ more than half of the private-sector workforce.

These corner-store heroes put in numerous hours doing work they love and provide services and products necessary to the local community. Not only that, but also our small-business owners and their employees are just as innovative and productive as their big-business counterparts per employee. Small businesses’ importance in our downtowns and country corners is easy to see, but they need our help.

Despite that, New York has one of the least friendly business climates in the country. With numerous taxes, fees, and fines, and pages upon pages of regulations, New York is more of a foe than a friend to our small-business heroes. We’ve made some progress in scaling back taxes and providing relief, but there is much more to be done to make it easier and more profitable to operate a business in our state. On a daily basis, I advocate for our small-business community and the jobs it generates.

While we’re working on these matters in Albany, you can help too. Help our corner-store heroes by actually shopping in locally owned shops.

If you aren’t already, consider the ways you can incorporate shopping locally into your life. The rewards generated by supporting our local job creators are well worth the effort. Not only will you help your local small-shop owner, but also the dollars you spend there are more likely to be reinvested back into your own community and into other small businesses.

Marc W. Butler (R,C,I–Newport) is a New York State Assemblyman for the 118th District, which encompasses parts of Oneida, Herkimer, and St. Lawrence counties, as well as all of Hamilton and Fulton counties. Contact him at butlerm@assembly.state.ny.us