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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Hello, all!
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333333"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:106%">
<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday® to back small businesses and keep communities thriving. Main Street America has been a proud supporter since
the beginning, and we are honored to once again team up with American Express to help rally communities to support their local businesses for the 15<sup>th</sup> Small Business Saturday on November 30, 2024.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">We invite you to apply to be a 2024 Neighborhood Champion* and help us make this year the most impactful yet. Together, let's set new records and make a resounding impact in celebrating
and supporting the heart of our communities-our small businesses!</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<strong><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">The application opens in early October and will remain open until mid-November, or until all the spaces are filled.
</span></strong><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Complimentary merchandise kits will begin shipping to those selected as Neighborhood Champions within the first week of the application opening, so we recommend applying
as early as possible to receive your kit with plenty of time to get prepared before Small Business Saturday on November 30th this year. This year, the kits will include new I SHOPPED SMALL stickers for small business owners to share with their customers, thank
them for their business, and encourage others to Shop Small® on Small Business Saturday.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">As in past years, all Main Street America members have been pre-qualified to serve as Neighborhood Champions on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited so
apply for your spot before applications close. All you need to do to apply is fill out a brief Neighborhood Champion application and indicate you were referred by the Main Street America network*.
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Mark your calendars and check back on our blog for the link and information to apply.
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">You can
<a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/" title="https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/benefits/shop-small/">
<span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">read more about the Neighborhood Champion program on the American Express website.</span></a></span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Thanks, everyone! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">*Terms Apply:
</span><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/pdf/ncterms.pdf" title="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/pdf/ncterms.pdf"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/pdf/ncterms.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Liz Shenk<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manager of Marketing and Outreach<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Main Street America<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chicago IL<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.0pt;color:#4F6228;letter-spacing:2.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#4F6228">Sheri Stuart
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:8.0pt;color:#4F6228">(she, her, hers) </span>
</b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">| Oregon Main Street Coordinator</span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:#4F6228"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:3.0pt;color:#A6A6A6">___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Desk: (503)986-0679 cell: (503)551-3705<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">725 Summer St NE, Ste C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Salem, Oregon 97301<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;color:gray">Visit our <a href="http://www.oregonheritage.org/">
<span style="color:blue">website</span></a>, Like us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/OregonHeritage">
<span style="color:blue">Facebook</span></a>, Visit our <a href="http://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/">
<span style="color:blue">Blog</span></a>, Join the Oregon Heritage News <a href="https://omls.oregon.gov/mailman/listinfo/Heritage">
<span style="color:#0563C1">e-news</span></a> Check our</span><span style="color:black">
</span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:#333333"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/"><span style="color:#23527C">LinkedIn</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.0pt;color:gray">.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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