Jerrod Shouse, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says Oklahoma’s upcoming sales tax holiday will be a big help to small businesses still recovering from the recession. This year’s tax holiday is Aug. 3-5.

“The sales tax holiday is kind of like the day after Thanksgiving,” he said. “It gets people fired up and puts them in the mood to shop, and that’s what we need right now.

“The more we can encourage people to spend money and shop at our small businesses, the more jobs we’ll save, and the faster our economy will recover,” he said.

Small business is the engine that drives Oklahoma’s seconomy, accounting for 97 percent of all state employers and employing 54 percent of the state’s private-sector workforce, according to federal data.

To learn more about the sales tax holiday, visit the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website at http://www.tax.ok.gov/upmin071012.html.

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NFIB is the nation’s leading small business association, with offices in Washington, D.C. and all 50 state capitals. Founded in 1943 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, NFIB gives small and independent business owners a voice in shaping the public policy issues that affect their business. NFIB’s powerful network of grassroots activists send their views directly to state and federal lawmakers through our unique member-only ballot, thus playing a critical role in supporting America’s free enterprise system. NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect the right of our members to own, operate and grow their businesses. More information about NFIB is available online at www.NFIB.com/newsroom.