The “go LOCAL” initiative was developed based simply on economics. In recent months, local businesses have been hit hard through the economic crisis facing our state and nation. In effect, this initiative is our own small economic stimulus - completely at the local level - and without extra spending. The “go LOCAL” initiative is about reallocation - not spending more money!
This is a voluntary effort to stimulate the economy in the Oconee County area promoted through the Oconee County Economic Development Department and the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce. There is no membership fee. There is no punch card. This effort is simply designed to ask you to commitment to better your community for today and the future. There is no cost for you to participate.
What you will receive is more layers of benefit for yourself and your community. Businesses will benefit through more traffic and more sales or services provided. By increasing their volume, their business will become stronger.
Also, you are paying taxes wherever and whenever you make a purchase. Everyone hates paying taxes, but most people don't think twice about paying taxes for someone else by purchasing goods and services elsewhere. You are either supporting your fire department, your schools, and your libraries OR you are paying for someone else's roads, law enforcement, or parks. Supporting local businesses means taxes remain in your community rather than paying down someone else's obligations.
By supporting local businesses, we…
- are keeping local stores and offices viable
- are helping keep our friends and neighbors employed through times of record unemployment
- are keeping our tax dollars local
- are indirectly helping local charitable causes (studies show that businesses with greater support from the community contribute more to local charitable causes)
- can create $1 million of direct spending locally without residents spending one dime more
- are supporting our roads, our parks, our emergency services, and our schools - not someone else's
- create additional opportunities for support businesses within the community
So join us as we try to support our friends, neighbors, and community in this venture
