This is an excerpt from the full article that can be accessed from my blogroll under “why support local businesses”. I think it is an important read, for obvious reasons, however I learned quite a few things from this article and it has opened my eyes to the impact of local biz on their communities…
Maintaining Community Character
When asked to name our favorite restaurant, cafe, or shop, it’s typically a unique local business. Just look at the results in any community’s “Best of” polls as proof. Those businesses define our sense of place, but we often forget their survival depends on our patronage.
Local owners, typically having invested much of their life savings in their businesses, have a natural interest in the community’s long-term health. Community-based businesses are essential to charitable endeavors, and their owners frequently serve on local boards and support numerous causes.
Yes, some chains give back to towns in which they do business, and not all local businesses are exemplary models. However, the overall impacts are clear: locally-owned businesses play a vital role in our community that chains rarely do, while chains often even undermine community interests.
For long-term progress, a conceptual change also is necessary. We must consciously plan that future with rules that will encourage the values we want reflected in our communities. And each time we spend a dollar, we would do well to weigh the full value of our choices, not solely to ourselves immediately, but for the future we want for our home towns.
© Jeff Milchen 1998-2005
The author is the co-founder of the Boulder Independent Business Alliance and AMIBA.
