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When you choose local and independent businesses for your services, shopping, dining and other needs, you not only get real value and personal service, you're helping:
1. STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY!
Each dollar you spend at independent businesses returns 3 times more money to your local economy than one spent at a chain — a benefit we all can bank on. Not only do independent businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue, they also are the customers of local printers, accountants, wholesalers, farms, attorneys, etc., expanding opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
2. BUILD COMMUNITY!
The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood-scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness. They’re the ultimate social networking sites! It’s also a well-documented fact that small businesses donate more than twice as much per sales dollar to local non-profits, events, and teams compared to big businesses.
3. INCREASE WEALTH OF RESIDENTS!
A recent study found that counties with more small, locally-owned businesses enjoyed greater per capita income growth. Greater concentrations of large absentee-owned businesses were associated with lowered incomes. Small businesses also generate more tax revenue per sales dollar. The bottom line: a greater percentage of local independent businesses will help keep your taxes lower.
4. CREATE A HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT!
Independent, community-serving businesses are people-sized. They typically consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution. More efficient land use and more central locations mean local businesses put less demand on our roads, sewers, and safety services. Studies also show strong correlation between the percentage of small locally-owned firms and various indicators of personal and community health and vitality.
5. ENHANCE CHOICES!
A wide variety of independent businesses, each serving their customers’ tastes, creates greater overall choice for all of us.

Excerpts taken from AMIBA’s Top Reasons to Buy Local, Eat Local, Go Local