Jeff Peyton
You know the math. Money spent in Habersham County stays in Habersham County. It really is that simple.
Let me put it this way. When you shop locally, you’re really getting cash back in the form of lower taxes. When you shop locally, you’re getting cash back in the form of less money going into the gas tank. (At today’s prices, a round-trip to Gainesville could cost you upwards of $7 – and that’s before you spend a dime while you’re there!)
Shopping locally is investing in your own community. For every $100 you spent with a locally owned store, $68 stays right here in Habersham County. (When you shop in a national chain store located in Habersham County, you’re still supporting Habersham, just at a slightly lower rate.)
Every single dollar you spend somewhere else – including the Internet – well, that’s just gone.
Shopping locally creates new jobs and expands the community’s local tax base, taking some of that tax burden off of your property. Equally important, small businesses you support locally require less infrastructure and fewer municipal services, just one more way shopping locally earns you a tax break.
Professional economists, like professional politicians, don’t agree on much, but one thing everyone agrees on is just how crucial small businesses are to the US economy. In fact, businesses with fewer than 20 employees account for 89 percent of ALL businesses, covering roughly half of the entire US workforce. Those same small businesses make up the backbone of Habersham County.
I’ll bet you didn’t know this – the local nonprofit organizations that so many Habersham County residents rely on get most of their funding from locally owned businesses. Statistically, locally owned businesses donate to charities at more than double the rate of national chain stores. When you shop locally, you are, in a very tangible way, supporting the people who support this community.
Still need a reason to shop locally? Local business owners aren’t names on a sign – they’re your friends and neighbors. Local business owners care as much about Habersham County as you do. They have a vested interest in knowing how to best take care of their local customers.
Finally, shopping in Habersham County is simply convenient. Why spend the time (or money) driving 30 minutes or more just to fight traffic, navigate parking, and ultimately buy something you could get here without all the hassle? Whether you’re shopping for cars, furniture, appliances or clothes, you can find it right here in Habersham County. And if you’re looking for something unique – a special gift for a special someone – the local shops in Habersham County are the perfect places to find hidden treasures that simply don’t exist anywhere else.
Most of the folks I’ve met who live in Habersham County tell me they can’t imagine living anywhere else. I can’t imagine shopping anywhere else, either.
Jeff Peyton is publisher of The Northeast Georgian. Email him at jpeyton@TheNortheastGeorgian.