The Union Recorder

Editorials

June 30, 2010

Shopping local must become a community mindset

MILLEDGEVILLE — Take a moment and think about the qualities that make Milledgeville and Baldwin County unique, and beyond the rich and storied history and its rich cultural attributes, your mind may turn toward the local shops and eateries that add to this community’s character.

This week, July 1-7, local entities are teaming to celebrate those aspects of the local community in recognition of Independents Week, an event geared at recognizing the importance and impact of local businesses and retailers.

Throughout the week, the City of Milledgeville and Digital Bridges will join in the promotion of independent businesses by encouraging local residents to use their influence and dollars at local stores to help fuel the local economy.

Imagine what Milledgeville would be like without access to the local restaurants, specialty shops and even services such as the hospital and others. Now try to imagine how important these businesses are to the local economy and what a huge portion of it they comprise, bringing in tourist dollars, supporting community outreach and worthy causes by giving back and providing service and quality.

It’s been said that statistically, 45 cents out of every dollar spent locally stays in the community through social, cultural and economic endeavors.

In addition to that fact, local retailers add to the hometown feel of a community, its distinctive character and flavor, the elements that set it apart from other locales and make it unique. They also promote a spirit of entrepreneurship and ingenuity, in support of the concept that solid new ideas and business dreams are possible to see come to fruition with the right kind of know-how.

Shopping local produces healthier neighborhoods and facilitates growth as they encourage others to build, develop and establish.

During last year’s busy holiday shopping season, the impact of local buying power resulted in an increase in sales for independent retailers in a season when overall retail sales dipped during the months of November and December 2009, according to a national survey of more than 1,800 independent businesses.

Independents Week is also an opportunity to bring greater attention to a local effort that is already encouraging local business support and promotion. Shop Local Milledgeville is a website aimed at encouraging local business support.

It’s a venue where business owners can register online for free and share information with customers on their business profile. They can even make their own coupons to promote sales or special events and have items posted on the website calendar of events. Customers can go online and find out more about the local businesses that are listed and the products and services they offer and who and how to contact them. It’s a great resource that certainly deserves a look.

It’s important to remember that the local mindset must carry over all year long and that it must start at home. If members of the local community don’t support local retailers, it’s hard to see or expect that others will either.

Text Only
Editorials
  • Remember our heroes this Memorial Day

    Memorial Day is Monday, and for many of us this means a three-day weekend, the end of the school year and the unofficial beginning of summer.

    May 26, 2012

  • Click-it or Ticket program saves lives

    More than 22,000 passengers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2010, and 51 percent of them were not wearing seat belts at the time of their fatal crashes.

    May 23, 2012

  • How would new pool be kept up?

    After weeks of input from area residents, the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners came to a consensus on how to fill the community recreational void left with the closure of the public county pool Tuesday, agreeing to pursue options for a new pool and other new recreational amenities in another location.

    May 19, 2012

  • We all have a stake in GC president search

    Georgia College will introduce a second slate of candidates in the running for its president’s post beginning this week.

    May 16, 2012

  • Tourism has direct impact on local economy

    One jobs sector brought in nearly $250,000 in tax revenue to Milledgeville and Baldwin County last year, but it may not have derived from the first area that comes to mind.

    May 12, 2012

  • Exercise caution on waterways this summer season

    In 2011, there were 11 reported fatalities on Georgia’s lakes and 66 injuries, according to statistics recorded by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.

    May 9, 2012

  • Recent graduates can contribute to Baldwin County

    By weekend’s end, nearly 2,000 people in Baldwin County will have transitioned from students to professionals, joining the ranks of the aspiring workforce of tomorrow as Georgia College alumni.

    May 5, 2012

  • Reading programs are vitally important

    The Twin Lakes Library System is set to kick off its annual summer reading program later this month, and amid funding cuts that have hit the libraries statewide hard.

    May 2, 2012

  • Speak up during Voices for Progress

    Next week a series of local sessions begin designed for planning the course of Milledgeville and Baldwin County’s future.

    April 28, 2012

  • County must focus on convenience

    Baldwin County saw two more of its convenience centers close earlier this month, bringing the number of closures to six.

    April 25, 2012

Poll
AP Video
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium 50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Facebook
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Stocks