One of the best parts of living in our region is the sense of care and support individuals and businesses provide for one another. It’s those relationships, neighbors supporting neighbors, that sustain our local economic vitality and ensure the welfare of our communities for generations to come.
With our busy schedules and the ease of online next day delivery, some of you might be asking if shopping local is really that important? The answer is “yes!”
When you spend your money locally, 68 cents of every dollar remains here and continues to enhance life in our communities. You are helping your neighbor put food on their table while simultaneously providing local jobs and financially impacting area nonprofits, local projects, and access to resources.
Julie Hilty, Family Building Blocks Director of Donor Relations and Business Partnerships, supports local ties.
“The number one suggestion I share with businesses is join your Chamber of Commerce. At Family Building Blocks we take pride in immersing ourselves into the communities that we reside in. That’s why we joined the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce as soon as we hit the ground in the Santiam Canyon. It has given us the opportunity connect our mission and values to our community’s desired giving needs. We see the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce as a valuable resource, and we are honored to be a part of our community’s story,” she explained.
Nonprofits like Family Building Blocks are just one of the numerous organizations that benefit from you choosing to spend with local businesses. It’s how libraries and parks are built, schools and youth sports are funded, college scholarships are made available.
In fact, it’s local spending that allowed the Chamber and Rotary to rally around small businesses adversely affected by COVID-19 and provide nearly $100K in aid to help them pivot and survive one of the most difficult seasons in recent history. It’s your support for local business that allowed many of them to give back following the wildfires, and the combined effort has raised nearly $4 million for local wildfire victims.
Because you support local business, local businesses support community.
As your Chamber, we serve businesses throughout the region, offering advocacy, networking, resources, and marketing support. Our primary goal is to raise awareness and visibility for our business community. If you are looking for a specific product or service, we can help locate a local business to meet your needs.
My challenge to you is this: Consider spending just a $100 a month locally instead of the alternative. It could be buying gas or groceries here instead of Salem, or maybe it’s grabbing dinner and a movie in town.
That $100, compounded per resident per month, would generate an additional $12 million annually for our local economy.
Every dollar counts. Our community fails or thrives based on where we choose to do business. Love your neighbors. Support your community. Shop Local.
By Carmélle Bielenberg
CEO Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce
