‘Un-chain America' on Nov. 19

To the editor: Sometimes seemingly small acts make a big difference. Take family spending. When you shop or dine out you may think you are simply fulfilling your family’s wants/and or needs. But think again. The choice of where you spend your money makes a big difference, right here in the Town of Warwick and in Orange County. Spending your money with locally owned, independent businesses puts your money to work at home, directly stimulating the local economy. Not only do you obtain the goods and services you and your family need and want, but those merchants, restaurants and services you patronize use the monies generated for local goods and services at other local independent businesses. They also employ people in your community, pay sales taxes, create rateables that help offset residential taxes and support everything from the Little League and soccer club to the historic society, hospital auxiliary, food pantry, animal shelter and many other worthwhile nonprofit organizations. Studies conducted across the country show that locally owned businesses create three and a half times the local economic activity compared to chains or formula businesses. Locally owned independent businesses generate higher sales per square foot (a common corporate measurement of success) and stimulate 70 percent more local economic activity per square foot. Shopping locally also benefits you, as local independent businesses offer a wider and more diverse range of goods and services, responding directly to the expressed wants of the local market, rather than trying to make the local market conform to a nation-wide consumer profile that may not take into consideration you and your neighbors’ needs and preferences. In short, shopping at locally owned, independent businesses makes your community and its economy healthy and prosperous - and it all starts with you. You can make it happen. On Nov. 19, the Warwick Independent Business Alliance, as part of the American Independent Business Alliance, is urging shoppers to “un-chain” for just one day. Just shopping and dining in locally owned independent businesses on Nov. 19 can potentially inject tens of thousands of dollars into the local economy. So, on Nov. 19th, “un-chain” and make a difference for Warwick. Michael McDermott Deborah Blomfield Warwick