Community, helping your neighbor and Made in America

While watching the parades this weekend and commemorating the sacrifices of our soldiers, you
cannot help but get wrapped up in the sense of community. Being part of these celebrations serves to remind us all about what it means to be an American. In our busy, day-to-day lives, it is easy to miss these connections. When we are shopping, we often miss connections to our community. We take products more at face value and are likely to choose based on color, price, shape, performance, etc. However, we do not see the faces of the people that invented those products, created them, packaged them and brought them to market. In the case of local goods, these items are made by your very own neighbors and friends.

If you choose to shop locally more often, you are helping your very own neighbor, your community and America. By choosing an American-made product, you are:

--Investing in your community: By spending money in your community, you are helping to keep area businesses open. These businesses in turn patronize other area businesses.
--Keeping diversity: We have all been guilty of complaining that there is not enough selection of this product or that or perhaps there is not a decent selection of restaurants in our town. If you do not support your local businesses, then they will not be able to stay open. It is that simple.
--Local business often put more money back into their local economy rather than bigger corporations. A Maine Center for Economic Policy study showed that for every $100 earned, local businesses put $58 back into their local economy. The study showed that for every $100 earned, national companies only put $33 back into the local economy.
--Inspiring competition in American businesses: Demand for local, American-made goods will increase if more people consider and purchase American-made. If demand increases, there will be more space for new businesses in the economy.
--Further strengthening your community network: When buying from local shops, you will probably find a more personal feel. You may feel more like family than a customer. In turn, the business owner is often making these connections with many community members. This connecting brings the community together and strengthens the town. Plus, many local businesses tend to be engaged in other community activities, enriching the lives of everyone.

You do not have to buy everything local to make impact. Even just changing your habits a little and considering more American-made products will make a positive impact.

Local First Bloomington has a nice page with resources for learning about the impact of buying local on the economy. The Institute for Self Reliance supplies links to several studies showing the impact of local businesses on the economy her: Key Studies on Big Box Retail & Independent Business.