It’s certainly turning out to be a holiday season like no other. Celebratory holiday dinners at local restaurants with family, friends and colleagues aren’t safe or possible under COVID-19 epidemic orders. Many people are opting to order online instead of doing their holiday shopping in person. And some aren’t making those annual journeys to their hometowns in Upper Peninsula to celebrate with family and friends.

All of these changes are certainly hard on us individuals, but they also spell major challenges for our small, local businesses that depend on our holiday dining, shopping and tourism.

Due to this, we were glad to hear businesses that require social gatherings for customers and have experienced disrupted operations due to COVID-19 epidemic orders now have additional time to make their December sales, use and withholding tax monthly payment, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.

“Allowing small businesses affected by COVID mitigation protocols more time to pay their taxes will provide some crucial support to business owners that are struggling right now,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. “My administration will continue working around the clock to provide more support for our businesses as we head into the cold winter months and continue working to eradicate COVID-19 in Michigan. I also urge the Michigan Legislature to work with me to pass a $100 million relief package for our small businesses and families that have been hit hard by this pandemic.”

This measure will certainly help, but it’s clear that our small, local businesses — and the families they support — need much more relief and funding from our state and federal governments, fast.

We continue urging our state and federal lawmakers to work together in an effort to save our small, local businesses, as our hometown entrepreneurs play a huge role in making our community a vibrant place to live and visit.

But we also encourage our readers to do their part by supporting small businesses however they can this holiday season.

Instead of ordering that item off Amazon or heading to a big box retailer, look around the region and the U.P. to see if you can find something similar — or even better — to purchase from a local or regional seller.

At a local business, your purchase will matter to them.

Your dollars will make an impact, as your money won’t just be a drop in the bucket of millions of dollars in revenue that large retailers report.

And your purchase and support this holiday season could help ensure our beloved local businesses are still open next year.