Be a good neighbor by shopping locally
by Cherise Benton - May 9th, 2010.Filed under: Events.
We all know we should support our local businesses, but an article published on yesmagazine.org last month points out something that we might not have realized: shopping local is more neighborly. According to the article, Local Economies Close the Distance Between Us, “residents of communities with a vibrant local business district are more likely to know their neighbors and to join civic and social groups.”
If you’ve never shopped in your neighborhood, give it a try and you might make a new friend while you’re at it. Or have lunch with your neighbors at a locally owned eatery. Developing a strong sense of community is an important part of resettling Youngstown.
And, of course, you’ll be doing a very good thing for our local economy: “Studies show that spending a
image from yesmagazine.org
dollar at an independent business generates about three times as much benefit for your local economy as spending a dollar at a chain. The reason is that, unlike chains, which siphon money out of a community, local businesses spend much of their revenue buying goods and services from other local businesses. They bank at a local bank, hire a local accountant, get their printing done at the local print shop.”