As we step into 2025, it’s time to take a closer look at the way we spend our hard-earned money and its impact on the world around us. One of the most powerful ways we can shape the future of our community is by supporting locally-owned businesses. When we choose to shop locally, we’re not just buying products or services—we’re investing in the health, wealth, and well-being of the entire community. Here’s why your choices matter and how you can make a difference in the year ahead.
When You Support Local Business, You Create a Healthier Community
Every dollar you spend at a local business stays within your community, fueling a positive cycle that strengthens local economies, creates jobs, and supports public services. In fact, when you support a locally-owned business, approximately 68% of your money stays within the community—far more than when you shop at large chains or online retailers. This recirculating money helps create new jobs, better wages, and stronger community wealth.
But the benefits don’t end there. Studies have shown that communities with higher percentages of locally-owned businesses enjoy better outcomes across nearly every social, environmental, and economic indicator. These businesses are more likely to provide jobs with fair wages, make environmentally-conscious decisions, and invest in local causes. Supporting local businesses means fostering a healthy, thriving community—one that is self-reliant and sustainable.
Every Dollar is a Vote
It’s important to remember that every dollar you spend is a vote for the type of world you want to live in. The choices we make as consumers can drive significant change, and we’re here to help you make those choices clearer. When we support businesses that close to home and align with our values, we send a message that we prioritize community well-being and keep money circulating in our local economy. We all have the power to help create a better world—one decision at a time.
When you shop locally, you’re not just supporting a single business—you’re strengthening the very fabric of your community. You’re building wealth for everyone and fostering connections with the people you live and work with. This creates a more vibrant, sustainable economy where money recirculates to create jobs, support families, and enhance local services.
The result? Less stress, happier neighbors, and stronger, deeper roots in the community. Imagine living in a place where the local economy is supported by people who care about their neighbors. It’s a vision we can all be part of—and it starts with you.
Local First means People First: Shaping Our Economy Together
Businesses shape our local economy, but we, as consumers, hold just as much power in determining what that economy looks like. People First Economy’s Local First program exists to help you make intentional, informed decisions, shifting your habits to support an economy grounded in local ownership. By supporting local businesses, we can collectively create a more resilient and self-sufficient economy.
At Local First, we’re passionate about helping consumers like you make decisions that support local ownership and community well-being. Throughout the year, we host a number of community-wide initiatives to bring people together and celebrate local businesses. From seasonal signature initiatives to monthly coffee hours, we work hard to make it easier for you to find the businesses that align with your values.
Your Support Makes a Difference
As we move forward into 2025, we encourage you to vote with your dollar by choosing local businesses over big-box stores. By supporting locally-owned companies, you’re creating a more vibrant, resilient, and sustainable community. Every dollar spent at a local business helps build a stronger local economy, creates jobs, and fosters a sense of belonging and connection.
Join us at Local First and take part in a movement that puts people and community at the center of the economy. Together, we can build the world we want to live in—one where businesses thrive, people prosper, and our communities grow stronger with each passing day.
Let’s make 2025 the year we choose local—because when we support local businesses, we create a healthier, happier, and more connected world for everyone.
Pledge to keep your dollars close to home in 2025:
