OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford These cookies were given to “Small Business Revolution” representatives by a local baker when they visited Fredonia in December.

The organizers of Fredonia’s effort to get “Small Business Revolution” plan to rally Tuesday morning for what they expect will be a celebration of the village’s nomination as one of the final five contestants.

“It’s going to feature a live feed off of Facebook from New York City. The Small Business Revolution team is going to be in New York City and they’re going to tell the announcement for who makes the top five,” one of the organizers, Julie Essek, said at the Fredonia Board of Trustees workshop Monday. The rally is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Fredonia Opera House.

She said that at the rally, “when we make the top five,” people will be taught how to vote for Fredonia as the final winner online. Votes will be accepted until Jan. 21.

“Small Business Revolution” representatives toured Fredonia last month, along with nine other communities across the country. They and others associated with the show will decide which of the 10 localities will make the list of five going up for a public vote.

“Prior to the 14th, we still need people to share the information, do the hashtags and all the things we’ve been doing,” Essek noted.

In the meantime, organizers of the effort are looking ahead to the public vote for the winner.

“You can vote every day — one vote per person, per device,” said the Fredonia Chamber of Commerce’s Michelle Joy. “So if you have six devices, vote six times that day, and every day for a week.”

“We want your kids to vote that are over 18,” Essek said. “We want you to spread the word to classmates that were maybe born and raised in Fredonia or that came to college in Fredonia, or residents that have moved on that you are friends with still.

“There’s a lot of people that are connected to Fredonia,” she added. “You can go across the world or go to New Hampshire and find people connected to Fredonia.”

Essek’s husband, new Fredonia Mayor Douglas Essek, also touted the project.

“This whole project here, this has been not only a Fredonia accomplishment and goal, it’s the community, it’s a region, it’s a state,” he said. “This is something that has been unifying our community with our businesses… and our community leaders. We’ve all come together and banded to work on this project. And this is just the start of something great for our community and region.

“Our village is based on small businesses so this is what we need to keep our village alive and our community alive,” he added.