Today is the Great American Buy Local Day!  And I am asking everyone to please join me in an all-out-celebration by putting your money towards a local retail store, restaurant, nonprofit, or service!

By now, I hope you have heard about the Lancaster Chamber years-long, “Think Local!” effort.  Launched in 2011, the initiative highlighted the many attributes of Thinking Local and called on business to prioritize local vendors whenever possible.

From creating and maintaining local jobs to securing solid customer service to building our tax base and improving the quality of life, the simple act of Thinking Local goes a long way in creating a positive impact for all of Lancaster County.

Yet, this past year has put that mind-set to the test like never before as we hunkered down and became most comfortable with “clicking-a-mouse” and ordering from large non-local businesses for many of our purchases.

Today, under the banner of a national day designed to focus on the benefits of local purchases, I challenge all of us to think anew about committing to Thinking Local, both as a business and as a consumer.

Honor all our local businesses and workers by taking a few minutes to inventory your purchases while you ask yourself, “Could I have gotten this locally?” 

Go beyond assuming that Think Local just applies to retail and restaurants and consider prioritizing it for all your business service needs, as well (accountants, lawyers, office supplies, etc.). 

And, get creative! Just because you aren’t all in the office together doesn’t mean you can’t incent co-workers with gift cards to local restaurants for special celebrations (and, if you do that, consider getting gift cards for locations that are proximate to your workplace, the establishments that came to rely on daily workers that are no longer there due to remote work!).

There is no doubt that when we prioritize Thinking Local everybody wins!  And, today, the Great American Buy Local Day, is as good a day as any to get started!

I hope to see you all soon at a restaurant or shop near you!

-Tom Baldrige, President & CEO of the Lancaster Chamber

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