Think Local Umpqua!

As a charter member of the newly formed “Think Local Umpqua” organization, I understand well the importance of supporting our local economy. I understand that local businesses shop and service other local businesses thereby supporting each other. Local businesses spend more of there hared earned money on our own community, thereby supporting each one of us. Each dollar spent locally circulates in the community three times longer than each dollar spent at an establishment owned and/or operated from outside our county.

When we buy goods and services from entities headquartered or located outside of Douglas County, we are sending our money out of town to them. Instead of buying your insurance on the internet, consider trying a local agent who hires local staff and that can work with you when you need them to. Consider instead of ordering a book on Amazon.com, supporting your local corner book store whose prices are comparable and can help you find exactly what you are looking for, all while contributing to the local character and charm of your community.

There are many ways to “Think Local First”. Try eating at a different locally owned and independently operated restaurant each week or month. Don’t drive by your local hardware store on the way to that big box-mart across town. Remember, you can usually save on gas and time, all while getting better service by patronizing your small business owner.

In addition, shopping local goods and services actually reduces waste! That’s right, by buying local you reduce the amount of energy consumed in shipping small quantities to homes via the internet, you save on fuel and emissions by not driving out of town or even across town, and understand that small businesses generate on average, less waste than the typical big box-store or internet shipper.

This summer, the Think Local Umpqua movement will be publishing a free shop local guidebook filled with information about local agriculture, restaurants, retail establishments, services, and more. This guide will assist the citizens of Douglas County in making more educated buying decisions that will create a stronger local economy. 10,000 copies of this guide will be made available for free to the public, so if your business is entirely owned within Douglas County and you operate independent of any franchise or parent company, contact Lily at 673-5023 today and get in the guide!

So next time you need to make a buying decision, “Think Local First”, and do not forget to reduce, reuse, and recycle to “Trash Douglas County Less.”