It’s beginning to look a lot like the holidays. Crews began getting the lights, decorations and banners up this last week to make the community cheery for the local businesses Small Business Open House on Saturday, November 25. Local businesses will be open to help begin the Christmas shopping season.
Although small businesses may not generate as much money as large corporations, they are vital to the strength of our local economy. These businesses provide new job opportunities for local residents and they make it possible for residents to shop in our community. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms. Since 1995, small businesses have generated 64 percent of new jobs, and paid 44 percent of the total United States private payroll, according to the SBA.
When consumers patronize local small businesses, they are essentially giving money back to their local community. A thriving local business will generate high levels of revenue, which means that the business will pay higher taxes, including local taxes. This money is then used for local police and fire departments as well as schools.
In a recent article in the CO-OP Financial newsletter, there are six good reason why it’s a great idea to shop locally on Small Business Saturday. 1)You’ll help create jobs in the community 2) Your tax dollars stay local. 3)Small businesses give back to the neighborhood. 4)Shopping at one local business helps other local businesses. 5)Small businesses offer more unique products.6) It helps keep the shopping in the local community diverse.
Take time on Saturday and throughout the Christmas season to visit our local businesses. Give them the chance to meet your Christmas list needs.
This time of year, on social media, many people take time to list the many things for which they are thankful. It has been an interesting year for us all. The snow, the flood, the eclipse. We have all had challenges, lost friends and family, many have had illness enter their lives, some have struggled financially and continue to work through many of these struggles. Thanksgiving doesn’t eliminate these struggles and challenges but it gives us a reminder to look for the silver lining in the clouds even in tough times. Sometimes it’s hard, but it is a constant reminder that when we look for it, there is hope that the next winter won’t be as bad or the flood water won’t rise but if so, we’ll pull together.
I am thankful for our community, for groups like the congregation at the Church of the Redeemer, who were willing to be inconvenienced so semis could park while products were unloaded and stored, for a hospital and Mr. Irv Leen who put their plans on hold so a temporary store could be opened, for residents who worked with neighbors to remove snow and slush, for resident who understood the challenges in our City and County when traveling was difficult to impossible and they hard to pack their trash to the trash sites. I am thankful for many more things but how does one list them all when one gets started. Thank you, Weiser and enjoy Thanksgiving.
Don’t forget the free community dinner being held at the Weiser Senior Center. Come and join others in the community to celebrate and give thanks. Thanks again to the Clary family, Sue and D’Ann Slyter, Keith Bryant and their crew of volunteers. What a great service to our area. Happy Thanksgiving.
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