Want to Help Your Community? Shop Local.
Specifically, shop at your local independent businesses. These are the businesses that are unique in your community. These are the businesses that are supporting other local businesses in your community, these are the businesses that are paying local taxes and fees that support the public services in your community, and they are the ones who have the most potential for creating local jobs:
“For every $1 spent at a locally owned business, the local economy receives $3 in terms of income, jobs, tax benefits and community/philanthropic contributions. Additionally, local businesses tend to use other local services such as accountants, bookkeepers, advertising, consultants, legal services, and other miscellaneous expenses.” – (Kevin Wilhelm, A local economy is a healthy economy, Sustainable Industries, January 2009)
Of course, local independent businesses do more than provide the most bang to the economy with your bucks:
- Unique small businesses are an integral part of the of local character and flavor of a community (for instance, almost every visitor to Portland I meet has a stop at Powell’s on their to-do list).
- Locally owned-businesses also build community well-being by linking neighbors and contributing more to local schools and local causes.
- Local business ownership also means that important decisions are being made by people who live in the community and who will feel the impacts of those decisions.
So as you are making that list this holiday season and checking it twice, consider using your purchasing power in the most positive way: shop and dine at your locally owned independent businesses.
BTW – If you are hitting the road for the holidays, consider skipping the chains and checking out the locally owned businesses in the city or town you are visiting.
