Shop def; –verb to visit shops and stores for purchasing or examining goods, to seek or examine goods, property, etc., offered for sale
Local def; adjective pertaining to a city, town, or small district rather than an entire state or country

These two small words mean a lot in our city where every local service and retail establishment counts on community support to stoke the fires of progress, rather than taking economic opportunities away from the community lets SHOP LOCAL!

Independent businesses raise the standard of living in our community because they take their profits and buy products and services from other local businesses, thus creating more and more tax revenues needed for the community to thrive.

Here at the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce we pride ourselves on “walking the talk” and believe that each and every one of us who has a support position within the community should strive to make this sentiment more than lip service, but a way of life, I know I have. After all, isn’t our goal to grow our city into a strong, self-sustaining community rooted in home-grown business talent? Of course, and the way to achieve this is by adopting a shop local attitude.

Why is this important?

Imagine, for example, if our local government needed a hammer and they went outside the city to find it. What kind of message would that send to local merchants and residents? The message would be that there is no place in town to purchase such a beating device and that local business is not worth supporting.

Not only would it take tax dollars out of the community, which could impact the growth of our infrastructure thus slowing the overall growth of Maricopa. That would be irresponsible on the part of our local government.

Now, I am a realist and know that there are a few services we are lacking, but if we could just get into the mind frame of looking local FIRST then these services will come faster. Just look at the growth over the last year or two. We have gone from having only Bashas’ to having Bashas’ and Fry’s, from having no fast food to having an abundance of fast food and so on. Thus is the law of “supply & demand.”

You have a choice of where to spend your hard-earned dollars, and we want to encourage you to “put your money where your house is.” Did you know that when you shop locally-owned businesses, your money is re-circulated over and over and creates up to 75% more tax revenue to our community and state, also when you shop at a locally owned business, 45 cents of every dollar stays in state – versus only 13 cents of every dollar spent at a national chain!

The choice is yours. You have the power to strengthen and enrich our community!

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH A FEW SIMPLE STEPS
• Make a decision to find and patronize a locally-owned business, wherever possible.
• Dine at a local, independent restaurant and treat yourself to a unique and personal dining experience.
• Use the Chamber Directory to locate businesses offering specific goods or services.
If you still do not know where to find a particular product or service, please feel free to contact me and I will help you find what you are looking for.

Tell your associates, family, and friends to shop local and why. We all have a stake in our community. Let’s create strong and vibrant community and set the example for those who follow.

Maricopa ROCKS!