Your patronage is greatly appreciated

With all of us feeling the impact of an ailing economy, it is more important than ever to remember to support your locally-owned independent business, even if in a small way. Every dollar brought into a local business by your patronage will be directed back to benefit you. Following are some of the ways your money gets re-circulated: Local businesses use local services such as marketing and accounting firms. They buy from local suppliers such as farmers, printers, and graphic artists. Businesses contribute to fundraisers for schools, churches, temples, hospitals, animal shelters, and other causes. It requires less energy, creates less pollution and is a very “green” way to shop. By shopping locally, you are helping to create more jobs here, and besides the obvious benefit of that, more taxes are collected for schools, police, and fire. And small shops help keep the character of your community unique. Shopping local does not mean we need to build walls around us, but by patronizing a local business or two, we may prevent stores from packing up and moving out or simply going out of business. Unfortunately for some, it is too late. This winter has taken its toll on several small businesses. Let’s try not to see any more business failures in our communities. If you think that something as simple (or as small) as a five or a ten-dollar purchase wouldn’t be appreciated, think again. Let’s create a local living economy. We all need to support each other during difficult times. Linda Fields, for the Milford Business Council and the Shop Milford campaign