Eat local. Shop small. Support local businesses. It's become more popular to support local institutions, but why? Why does it really matter whether you shop at the mall or on Main Street, or whether you eat at an Olive Garden or the mom and pop restaurant down the street? Is this push for "local" just a marketing ploy that calls back a nostalgic feeling of "Main Street USA?"
No, it isn't; and yes, where you spend your money does matter. Supporting local is about more than just shopping at a cute boutique instead of Forever 21: it's about empowering communities through economic development and political power.
Decisions start at the bottom
Local issues impact our everyday lives more than most people realize, yet participation in local government is troublingly low. Voter turnout in the United States is low to begin with: many developed countries turn out 10-20% more of their eligible voting population during election years. Still, voting rates drop significantly in the United States outside of major election cycles. One major reason for this is that major elections will receive more media attention and have larger advertising budgets to excite and attract more voters. However, while the excitement around national elections is valid, and the issues covered are important, the decisions that affect day-to-day life are often made not by the winners of national elections, but by the winners of state and local elections.
No wonder people feel disenfranchised in our current system: they hear big ideas from politicians, yet feel like nothing actually changes at a local level. Meanwhile, local political power tends to be held overwhelmingly by older white men who have most likely held their seats for a long time and are not apt to enact new policy. Since so few people turn out to vote in those elections, whether there's a great alternative candidate doesn't even matter: it's incredibly difficult to make democratic changes if nobody shows up. If people engaged more in their local government, then they would not only benefit from more representative political leaders, but they would feel more empowered in seeing changes actually take place at a local level.
Foreign policy, education, taxation, and healthcare are all debated at a high level in our national government and there are very real implications that come from decisions at the top. However, local governments have a huge say in how taxpayer dollars are allocated towards things like K-12 education and transportation. They pass laws impacting the labor market, criminal justice, and housing. The type of change that so many yearn for happens closer to home than they realize.
The importance to engage at a local level extends beyond government.
Local businesses generate economic development that helps local communities instead of hedge funds and millionaire CEOs. Money spent at local businesses is 3x more powerful than money spent at large chains. Local businesses generate taxable revenue and create local jobs, and some will argue that any chain will do the same thing. However, local business owners also have a vested interest in the welfare of their community: they're more likely to donate money to local causes, sponsor little league teams, and practice fair employment practices. Chains and multi-national corporations build excellent products, create millions of jobs, and have a clear role to play in our economy. They also are beholden to their profits over employee welfare, sustainability, and the longevity and vibrancy of local towns.
Local businesses know their communities best, and are able to offer highly quality, unique experiences and goods. Though you may pay a small premium for a locally sourced good, that good will likely have a drastically lower carbon footprint and offer artisan-level quality. A successful local business community is a sign of a community that's thriving financially, providing better quality of life for all. The fastest growing demographic in business ownership is women of color, indicating that small business creates representation that will empower groups previously left out of the American Dream.
Engaging locally doesn't just sound nice: it creates meaningful impact for everyone.