Kimber Lanning’s recent appearance on KAET 8 Arizona PBS presented another opportunity for her to remind us why buying local works for everyone.
Local First Arizona and its more than 2100 members represents the largest local business coalition in North America. This non-profit group works hard to remind consumers to support local businesses. Spending locally helps not just by keeping the dollars spent in the local economy, but by keeping local dollars invested locally.
Kimber points out that “Big-Box” stores consolidate their upper management and support staff off site and usually where they receive the best tax advantage. Online businesses pay no local taxes except where they have warehouses and call centers. When a consumer shops locally a local business grows and spends locally. But hiring local employees is only a small part of the chain.
Local businesses utilize other local businesses to support their:
- Accountants
- Advertising Companies
- Cleaning Companies
- Web Designers
- Graphic Designers
- Vendors
Each of these businesses then do their part in the chain, which compounds the initial investment in the local economy.
Local businesses also pay taxes locally and these taxes support local services, such as police, parks, and libraries.
Like Think Columbus First, Local First Arizona’s “Shift Arizona” program encourages consumers to pledge to shift 10% of their spending to local business. The “Shift Arizona” calculator allows shoppers to see how shifting only 10% of their spending to local businesses will impact the local economy.
The “Shift Arizona” calculator and other great information is available on the Local First Arizona website.