You always have a choice.. We encourage you to choose a local, independent business
FIRST. Before you head off to the generic restaurant or the big national chain store, consider
all the local, independent businesses that are relying on your support. Here are ten great
reasons why LOCAL FIRST makes sense for the Capital Area … and beyond.
1. Local Dollars Multiply in the Local Economy
For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy. For every $100 spent at
a chain store only $13 remains at work here. Independent businesses create more jobs and buy from other
local businesses, keeping money circulating many times over. Tomorrow morning that national chain store will wire
transfer their receipts away from the Capital Area.
2. Independent Owners Invest in Local Success
The Capital Area is home to the independent business owner who is far more likely to consider the community’s
needs in his business decisions. A chain operation will close a store, leave an empty shell of a building, cut jobs
with no emotional concern about how those changes impact the community.
3. Independent Businesses Foster Job Creation
Studies show that locally owned businesses create more jobs, typically pay better wages and are more likely to
provide benefits than national chains. They tend to hire local people and promote from within, expanding
opportunities for future generations.
4. Avoid Homogenizing Our Community
Communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character are more likely to attract
entrepreneurs and new investment. Home-grown businesses are an attraction to visitors and improve our
standing when competing as a convention site.
5. Help the Environment
Independent businesses tend to operate downtown or nearby one another in walk-able neighborhood
business districts, refurbish existing buildings, preserving the historic nature of the city. In contrast big
box stores build at the outskirts of the city, creating greater demands on our infrastructure and the environment.
6. Nurture Our Community
Locally owned businesses typically contribute more than twice as much to charitable causes than their
corporate counterparts. It is primarily local business that supports the arts, schools, social programs and
culture in our community.
7. Personal Service, Community Knowledge
Personal service and community connectedness are the hallmarks of most local businesses. When the
owner has a stake in the community it makes a real difference in the service experience.
8. Creating Fairness in Tax Incentives
Our local first organization will encourage government to invest in redeveloping neighborhood business
districts and encouraging more independent business development, rather than offering tax incentives
to ‘big box’ stores to compete with local independent businesses.
9. Preserve Entrepreneurship
The success of locally owned, independent businesses provides real-life inspiration to our young
people, proving that they can stay in the capital area and prosper on their own terms.
10. Maximize Every Dollar
Every dollar spent at a local independent business works three times harder to fuel our local
economy. When we are each conscious of our spending habits and make the extra effort to shop with
local independent businesses it is like turning one dollar into three.
Chain stores often bring in their own bankers, builders and designers and managers. But
when local businesses grow they hire local architects, engineers, accountants, ad
agencies … they buy their insurance, supplies and media locally. They hire locally and their
profits stay locally.