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CommentsThe Hometown Advantage of Thinking Local
By Steve FrischPublished: December 13, 2008
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The headlines are full of news about the global recession and its impact on employment, retirement savings, housing, banking and consumer spending. But there are things that we can do to make a difference.
The health of small business is critical to the economic viability of our Tahoe-Truckee community, and our ability to provide services in tough times. Most Sierra Nevada communities see well more than 50 percent of all retail sales leave the region; but we can act locally and choose to buy from local independently owned businesses this holiday season.
The Think Local First movement is picking up steam across the nation. Communities with Think Local First networks are outperforming other economies, seeing improvements over the average in retail sales and creating new economic opportunities by re-circulating dollars. If there’s any doubt in your mind, check out these good reasons to Think Local First:
• A dollar spent in a local independently owned business is usually spent more than six times before it leaves the community. These dollars are used to make purchases from other business, re-circulated as wages, invested in improvements, stored in local banks, and continue to strengthen the economic base of the local economy.
• A dollar spent in a local business is more likely to be used to support local charities and community groups: small business owners give three times more in their local communities than national chains do.
• A dollar spent in a local business contributes to local sales tax and property tax providing local government with more revenue to address local issues.
• A dollar spent in a local business helps local consumers have a larger voice in the products that retailers sell, keeping our communities unique and attractive with a vibrant mix of local choices.
“There is now overwhelming evidence that local businesses are the key to pumping up local income, wealth, jobs, and taxes,” says noted economist and author Michael Shuman. “The more residents, businesses, and city officials support locally owned businesses, the greater the economic rewards.”
In addition to shopping locally, we can re-circulate dollars in our communities by supporting local nonprofits, churches, service organizations and community foundations. We can support local agriculture by purchasing locally grown fruits, vegetables, meats and products. We can invest locally by banking with a local bank. We can conserve locally by reducing our consumption of energy and reducing waste, saving money to re-invest in local economies. We can make a difference in our local community.
~ Steve Frisch is the President of the Sierra Business Council (sbcouncil.org), a regional nonprofit promoting the sustainability of the Sierra Nevada. Sierra Business Council wishes to salute the hundreds of businesses in the Sierra Nevada working to promote Think Local First.
Thinking Local Events
Tahoe City & Kings Beach
North Tahoe Shop Local Contest
Shop locally at participating retailers and receive a stamp on your contest card for every $20 spent. At the end of the contest period, all returned cards will be entered into a raffle for great prizes donated by North Tahoe businesses. You could even win a kayak! Pick up a card at these locations: the North Tahoe Conference Center, the North Tahoe Business Association, the Tahoe City Downtown Association, Plumas Bank in Tahoe City and Kings Beach, Bank of the West in Tahoe City and Kings Beach, and at the Visitors Center in Tahoe City. For a full list of participating retailers click to visittahoecity.com or ntbamainstreet.org.
Family & Pet Photos with Santa
Dec. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photos with Santa, decorating cookies, get your gifts wrapped, at the King Building, 8445 N. Lake Blvd (by Brook Avenue Grill). ntbamainstreet.org, 530-546-9000.
Art and Ornament
Nov 15 to Jan. 12
Fine art, craft and holiday décor, photography, sculpture, functional art at North Tahoe Arts, northtahoearts.com, 530-581-2787.
NTMS Jazz Band Concert/Jake’s Happy Hour
Fri. Dec. 12, 4:30 p.m.
The North Tahoe Middle School Jazz band will be playing at 4:30 p.m. with festivities following at Jake’s on the Lake at Boatworks Mall, 760 North Lake Blvd., 530-581-4236.
Santa Sled Day
Sun. Dec. 14, from 11 a.m. to p.m.
Free Sledding and Santa at Granlibakken Resort, granlibakken.com, 530-583-4242.
Santa at The Boatworks Mall
Sat. Dec. 20, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Visit with Santa Claus and the community-giving tree to help our local families in need, at 760 North Lake Blvd., 530-581-4236.
Truckee
Book of Savings for Truckee Stores
Truckee businesses are offering a Holiday Passport to Savings. The Passport, which is free at the Truckee Donner Visitor Center, is filled with coupons and discounts at local stores. Businesses will remain open until 8 p.m. each Thursday, Friday and Saturday through December. Special evenings include Ladies Night on December 11, with free gift wrapping, champagne, and hors d’oeuvres; and Men’s Night on December 18, with free gift wrapping, beer, wine, and snacks. Participants are invited to enter a drawing that will be held Dec. 26 with prizes totaling over $800 in gift certificates from participating merchants. Truckee Donner Chamber of Commerce, 530-587-2757.
Brickelltown Christmas Fridays
Dec. 12 and 19, 4 to 8 p.m.
Head down to Brickelltown every Friday until Christmas for local art, unique gifts, music, cozy outdoor fires, fabulous shopping, community stocking stuffing (in association with Truckee Community Christmast), and everything you need to get into the spirit of Christmas. 530-582-0908.
Open House at Truckee Annex of Tahoe Maritime Museum
Dec. 19 and 20, 1 to 4 p.m.
Join the Tahoe Maritime Museum for hot chocolate and a glimpse of all the great maritime artifacts kept at its Truckee Annex. $5 admission, or free to those bringing a new, unwrapped toy for donation to the Tahoe Toys for Tots program. 10434 River Park Place, off West River Street, 530-525-9253.
Carmel Gallery Holiday Grand Opening
Dec. 20, 3 to 7 p.m.
The Carmel Gallery in Truckee will hold a Holiday Grand Opening and Open House event in their new gallery building. The event will feature the fine art photography of artists Olof and Elizabeth Carmel, as well as an expanded collection of Japanese antiques and fine woodwork. Enjoy refreshments and wine tasting from the Truckee River and Mondavi wineries. The event is free and open to the public. 9940 Donner Pass Rd., thecarmelgallery.com, 530-582-0557.
Ski Resorts
Northstar Noel Nights
Noel Nights every Thursday in December from 4 to 8 p.m. Enjoy s’mores by the fire, free ice skating, hot cocoa, shopping specials, holiday carolers, photos with Santa and more, at the Village at Northstar, northstarattahoe.com, 530-562-1010.
Sugar Bowl Torchlight Parade
Wed. Dec. 24
Sugar Bowl hosts this traditional holiday event when skiers take to the slopes, with Santa too, lighting up the night. Parade participants take the Nob Hill lift up before making their way down, 530-426-9000.
The Village at Squaw Valley
Through the New Year
Santa Claus on skis, Christmas carolers, movie nights, holiday parties, and the Christmas Eve torchlight parade are just a few of the many holiday events going on at The Village at Squaw. Try some holiday candle making, free solstice mini-intuitive readings, and give gifts for Toys for Tots and homeless pets too. A full list of events can be found at thevillageatsquaw.com.
Read on:
Unwrap the Secrets of Lake Tahoe, One Stop Shopping at The Tahoe Store Emporium, Dazzle Em' With a New Holiday Look from m studio, Backstreet Boutique, Bikes for Babes, The "Bible" for Emergency Preparedness and Survivial, Rainbow Doorways, Brothels and Slot Machines and Wilderness, Oh My!, Exquisite Adornments for Extraordinary People, Christmas and Community.
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