Head to Main Street & spend your money in local, independent stores and cafés. Shopping at small businesses keeps money in your community to help finance & support schools, police, fire departments, search & rescue, EMT’s, streets, sidewalks, parks & the list goes on. When you shop small, the bulk of the money you spend and most of your taxes stay local. For every $100 you spend in a local small business, $68 stays in your community. At a local branch of a chain store, $43 remains. Online, virtually no money stays local. Buy buying local you’ll raise your property values. Lively, vibrant neighborhood shopping streets are considered an advantage when selling a home. They make your property more valuable. You’ll strengthen your community. Local businesses are owned by people who live in your town, go to your church, donate to local youth programs, support local fundraisers & community projects etc. When you spend money in their stores and cafes, you support your neighbors.