BOSTON (AP) — Boston city officials have offered two hours of free metered parking to encourage people to shop at local businesses during Small Business Saturday.

American Express started the marketing initiative for the Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday — two of the busiest shopping days of the year.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Kim Tunnicliffe reports

U.S. Small Business Administration head Karen Mills was scheduled to join Boston Mayor Thomas Menino at the city’s Roslindale neighborhood Saturday to discuss how shopping at local businesses is critical to the health of the American economy.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Doug Cope reports on Mills’ visit

AmEx says a survey shows 89 million consumers plan to “shop small” on Small Business Saturday.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.