Thursday, March 29, 2012
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery
|
|
||
|
Thursday, March 29, 2012 |
||
|
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
|
|
Fielder’s Choice ‘Be A Holly Shopper’ In February, there was a full page advertisement on page 3 of The South Reporter. The big headline at the top read – “Be A Holly Shopper.” The emphasis was on staying at home and shopping locally – in Holly Springs and Marshall County. The important message was sponsored by the Bank of Holly Springs, First State Bank, Merchants & Farmers Bank, the Holly Springs Chamber of Commerce and Holly Springs Main Street. Shopping at home has been something preached through the pages of community newspapers, like this one, for many years. Never has the message been more important than in 2012. Our local businesses need your support and they deserve your support. They’re your friends and neighbors. They’re the ones you call on regularly to support community causes. They support civic club fund-raisers, school projects, families in need and the list goes on and on. Our local merchants care. They care about the well-being of our towns and county and the residents. Most work long hours. And most you can call after hours, if needed, and they will get you what you need. The full page in the February 9 edition of The South Reporter listed just a few benefits of buying locally – 1) Money spent here stays here; 2) jobs and wages; 3) stronger tax base; 4) local business owners invest in our community; 5) better variety; 6) convenience equals savings; 7) keep local dollars in the economy; 8) friends and neighbors; 9) community well-being; and 10) live here – buy here. I noticed in a recent copy of The Itawamba County Times where the Itawamba County Development Council is launching a campaign called “I Get It! in Itawamba County.” The story was written by Adam Armour of The Times staff. Greg Deakle, executive director of the ICDC, talked about the importance of local shopping. He called it the “local multiplier effort.” Money spent locally is used by local people to buy more stuff locally. Eventually, that money will leave the area, but the more it’s spent locally, the more the local economy benefits. “So, my spending in another community can actually affect the local unemployment rate? Yes,” Deakle said. “By spending money here, we encourage our local business to grow and maybe hire more people.” In turn, Deakle said this impacts the ability of the county and its communities to offer necessary services – playing a key role in determining how much to tax residents. It’s a cycle – business means jobs; jobs mean a larger, stronger community; a larger, stronger community means more business and so on. “We all want better roads, more security, better schools and a nicer place to live; we all want more choices of things to buy and places to go; we all want our neighborhoods to look nice and be safer. The best place to make a difference is right here at home,” Deakle said. Monday morning, I dropped my chain saw off locally for repairs. Last Friday night, Erin and I enjoyed dining out in Marshall County. Those are only a couple of examples. We all go out of town for things. But our focus should be on shopping at home and making a difference here. |
     
|
Report
News: (662) 252-4261 or southreporter@dixie-net.com
Fax: (662) 252-3388
Questions, comments, corrections: southreporter@dixie-net.com
The South Reporter
P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
©2004,
The South Reporter, All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced in any way without permission.
The South Reporter is a member of the Mississippi Press Association.
Web
Site managed and maintained by
South Reporter webmasters Linda Jones, Kristian Jones
Web Site Design - The South Reporter
