Locally owned businesses provide substantial economic benefits to a city. A locally owned business is likely to produce income, jobs, tax receipts, and charitable donations for a community over several generations. Whenever local ownership coincides with the location of a business, all of these transactions reinforce one another and increase local economic activity. When dollars are spent locally, they can in turn be re-spent locally. Significantly more money re-circulates locally when purchases are made at the locally owned business level.

Spending money with local retailers helps keep the local community alive. The places where we eat, shop, and have fun all make a community home. One of a kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of a place. A town overrun by large chains of shops rather than independently run small businesses becomes less personal, homogenized and for many patrons the shopping experience becomes lifeless.

The effort to keep “main streets” thriving is extremely important.