|
Keep more of your dollars in your local economy.
Most of the money you spend in a
locally owned business stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding
the city's tax base. At national chain and big box stores, a much smaller
percentage of your money remains in your community.
Embrace what makes your neighborhood unique.
Where we shop, where we
eat and hang out—all of it makes our neighborhood home. Chain stores are
growing more and more aggressive throughout the area and threaten to change the
unique character of our community. One-of-a-kind, independent businesses are an
integral part of what makes this a great place to live.
Foster local job creation.
Studies show that locally
owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better
wages and benefits than national chains.
Help the environment.
Local business owners
tend to set up shop downtown and in walk able neighborhood business districts,
rather than developing on the city's fringe or in suburban strip malls
accessible only by automobile. Having a diverse array of businesses within
walking or biking distance reduces the amount of driving our residents must do
to shop for goods and services. It also helps to conserve land, limit sprawl
and lessen traffic and air pollution.
Nurture Community
Independent businesses
are owned by people who live in this community and are committed to investing
in its future. Studies have found that locally owned businesses contribute more
than twice as much of their revenue to charitable causes as corporate chains
do. And advocates of local causes find that local business owners are generally
much more accessible than executives of large corporations based in other
states.
Conserve your tax dollars.
Small neighborhood and
downtown businesses require less public infrastructure and make more efficient
use of city services compared to sprawling big-box stores and shopping centers,
which are far more costly in terms of road work and police services, according
to studies.
Have more choices
A marketplace of many
small businesses helps to ensure more innovation and competition, and lower
prices over the long term. Independent businesses, choosing products based on
what their local customers need and desire, not a national sales plan,
guarantees a more diverse range of product and service choices.
Benefit from local owners’ expertise.
Local business owners and
employees often possess a level of expertise and a passion for the products
they sell that is unmatched by employees and managers of national chains. They
also tend to have a greater interest in getting to know their customers—who
are, after all, also their neighbors. Simply put, local owners and employees
take a special pride in their trade.
Preserve entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship fuels
America's economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for
families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class. Plus, the
success of locally owned, independent businesses provides real-life inspiration
to our young people, proving that they can stay independent and prosper on
their own terms.
Ensure our community stands out from the crowd.
In an increasingly
homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and
distinctive character are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new
investment. We should place a high value on individuality and consider our
homegrown enterprises a source of pride. They are also an attraction to
visitors.
|
