Some residents are celebrating independence with cookouts and fireworks, but Beaufort County businesses are instead embracing local business owners with Independents Week.

The county’s Independents Week runs July 2-9, and the occasion features an added emphasis on spending local dollars. Independents Week is a national campaign, but this is the first time it has been organized in the Washington area.

“The American dream is alive in small business owners. What better way to celebrate the birth of the United States than to support the independently owned businesses of our communities?” a First South Bank press release stated.

First South Bank is sponsoring the week, along with the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and Washington Harbor District Alliance.

“It’s just an awareness,” said Catherine Glover, executive director at the Chamber. “We’ve done shop small Saturdays, which is in November, and we’re really pushing more toward a yearlong approach.”

Glover said there are already posters around Washington and “shop local” bags for the businesses to give to customers. A business does not have to be a member of the Chamber to participate. Chamber representatives officially kicked off Independents Week at Friday’s 440^th Army Band performance at Festival Park.

In the press release, First South Bank stated it considers itself to be a small business in many ways, especially in comparison to larger corporate banks.

“The vision of partnering with local chambers and downtown alliances was born out of First South’s value to serve their community,” the release stated. “First South views locally owned businesses to be a valuable piece of the communities in eastern and central North Carolina.”

“Independent businesses are very important,” Glover said. “Your individual, small businesses make your community unique.”

Although this week is about the small businesses, Glover said the larger stores are vital, as well.

She said all businesses, whether a “mom and pop” store or a big retail chain, are important to Beaufort County.