The chamber is dedicated to supporting our local retailers, restaurants and community banks by promoting the benefits of shopping, dining and banking locally. Cash Mobs, Holiday Strolls, our annual Spring Seasonings restaurant showcase, a chamber produced shop local video campaign and our “Shop & Schmooze” networking series further showcase merchants to members and the community as a whole.

Shopping, dining and banking locally...

• Keeps our community vibrant,
  
• Generates revenue for our schools, our police, our fire department and our roads,
  
• Provides jobs for our neighbors,
  
• Encourages entrepreneurship,
  
• Saves gas and reduces our carbon footprints,
  
• And heightens community pride and spirit!
  

National surveys have demonstrated that retailers in communities with active buy local campaigns have experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to those located in areas without such a campaign.

One study, by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research and educational organization, found that communities with a “shop local” initiative reported revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere. Independent retailers in “buy local” communities reported seeing a 5.2% increase in holiday sales, while those elsewhere reported an average gain of 0.8%. Almost half reported that shop local campaigns had brought new customers to their business and 55% said it had made existing customers more loyal.

Join your neighbors in taking a stand for your community and local economic independence. #ShopLocal