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HARTFORD, Conn.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--As one of the largest insurers of small businesses with a national network of agents, many of whom are small business owners themselves, The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: [ TRV ]) today announced its support for Small Business Saturday, a day dedicated to bringing attention to the important role small businesses play in communities across the country.

"The ultimate drivers of economic growth and prosperity are innovation, economic risk taking and investment, the majority of which come from small businesses"

aThe ultimate drivers of economic growth and prosperity are innovation, economic risk taking and investment, the majority of which come from small businesses,a said Marc Schmittlein, President and CEO of Travelers [ Small Commercial ]. aFor every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 remains in the local economy.¹ Itas easy to see that small businesses have significant influence on the well-being of communities across the country.a

Travelersa commitment to Small Business Saturday, which falls on November 26 of Thanksgiving weekend between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, is just one component of the companyas overall support of small businesses. Travelers also offers [ small business tips and resources ] to its customers and to its network of more than 13,000 independent [ agents ], including business continuity planning, disaster mitigation techniques and other resources to manage risk and limit business interruptions.

aAs an independent agent, I feel good knowing that Travelers is committed to seeing small business owners like me succeed,a said Ted Dyste, President of Dyste Williams, a Travelers agent in Minneapolis. aMany of our clients own small businesses, which are an important economic driver in our community. Travelers provides the insurance and risk management expertise small business owners like me need to compete in a challenging economic environment.a

Travelers also [ advocates for small businesses ] through a national series of symposia, aSmall Business a" Big Opportunity,a hosted by the [ Travelers Institute ] to raise awareness of and identify solutions to issues affecting entrepreneurs. The cornerstone of the events includes conversations with small business owners, public policy leaders, regulators, economists and lenders to discuss business challenges, including risk management, business continuity planning, regulatory requirements, and other issues that impact small business growth and job creation. The next symposium will take place on November 30 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

aTravelers is committed to helping small businesses succeed and influencing public policy leaders to improve the business environment,a said Joan Woodward, Travelers Executive Vice President of Public Policy, who also heads the Travelers Institute. aSmall businesses are the backbone of our economy, and we understand it is essential to have state and federal policies that encourage entrepreneurship and fuel job creation across the country.a

Facebook, Google, Twitter and other innovators have also collaborated on Small Business Saturday to offer a toolkit designed to increase online sales at small businesses. The business owner toolkit is available at [ facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturday ].

About Travelers
The Travelers Companies, Inc. is a leading provider of property casualty insurance for [ auto ], [ home ] and [ business ]. The companyas diverse business lines offer its global customers a wide range of coverage sold primarily through independent agents and brokers. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Travelers has more than 30,000 employees and operations in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Ireland. The company generated revenues of approximately $25 billion in 2010. For more information, visit [ www.travelers.com ].

About Small Business Saturday
November 26 marks the second annual Small Business Saturday, a day to support the local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the country. Small Business Saturday (SBS) was created in 2010 in response to small business owners' most pressing need: creating more demand for their products and services. A total of 1.5 million Facebook users, 130 public and private organizations, and 41 elected officials declared their support for SBS last year.

¹ CivicEconomics, The Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, [ http://www.civiceconomics.com/AndersonvilleStudy.pdf ] (October 2004)