Letter to the Editor - Investing in the local economy helps your community
Published: Thursday, February 2, 2012
Updated: Friday, February 3, 2012 07:02
Who decides where our money goes when we spend it shopping? We do.
In The Daily Athenaeum, columnist Brandon Muncy stated that, "Yet, you always hear about how Wal-Mart came to town and destroyed the economy and impoverished the people living there. The simple reality, however, is national chains are neither evil nor local economy destroyers. In almost every respect, they're actually beneficial."
The 3/50 Project was an initiative started by Cinda Baxter encouraging people to redirect a portion of their spending to locally owned businesses. According to this project, for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. If you spend that at a national chain only $43 stays in your local community.
Spend money at a national chain and it gets sent away; spend money in a locally owned store and it gets brought back. Pick three of your favorite locally owned stores and think about what it would be like if they disappeared. Spend $50 per month at these stores. Generate money for your community.
The Buy Local Fairmont Committee was established to increase awareness of the importance and economic value of shopping at locally owned Fairmont, W.Va. businesses. They have now launched the Buy Local Campaign. This semester, myself and five other students are working on this campaign with the committee. Professor Colistra is also hoping to work on a Buy Local project for Morgantown in the near future depending on the funding provided.
Shopping locally can not only be a great experience, but it can also help your community. Thinking about those unique shops rather than the national chain stores can open your eyes to a whole new side of your town. Spend money in your community and keep money in your community.
Samantha Esposito
Senior public relations student
is a member of the 
