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Economic Development Quarterly
Spring 2015
2015 MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
2015 Industry 2015 Industry Appreciation AwardsAppreciation Awards
Firefly Trail FundraiserFirefly Trail Fundraiser
GRU/UGA Medical GRU/UGA Medical Partnership Partnership InternshipsInternships
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Q U A R T E R R E W I N D
F A S T F O R W A R D
New Projects 3
Clients Hosted 5
Existing Industry Visits 6
Future Bookings are confirmed events under contract with a venue and/or hotels.
Future Room Nights are the number of rooms secured on behalf of the event with rate commitments and group contracts.
Attendees is the estimated number of people to attend the contracted events.
Economic Impact is estimated using the following formulas from Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI)- estimated spending per day per
attendee is $214.64 for conventions, $297.11 for conventions with trade shows and $150.27 for a sporting event.
Athens Convention & Visitors Bureau Sales Report
Future Bookings Future Room
Nights Attendees
Estimated Economic
Impact
January 2015 13 2,651 2,131 $774,000
February 2015 4 5,242 6,200 $2.2M
March 2015 19 1,015 829 $282,810
Total for Quarter 36 8,908 21,989 $3.3M
YTD 36 8,908 42,580 $3.3M
May 12 Tech on Tuesday
10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm @Easom Building (Building F) at Athens Technical College
https://www.athenstech.edu/ Spotlight.cfm?i=94
Prospective students are invited to TECH on Tuesdays. Information on applying for admission to Athens Technical College will be covered during these information sessions. College staff will also discuss the financial aid application process and the placement testing procedures. Participants also take a tour of the Athens Campus as part of TECH on Tuesdays.
May 21 LUNCH & LEARN: Technology Tools and How to Use them in Your Business
11 am– 1 pm @ Athens SBDC, Chicopee Complex, $30 www.georgiasbdc.org It is vital for you as a small business owner to know, understand and use today's advanced technologies to help run and keep your small business on track. This seminar will go over the different types of technology that is useful and helpful to your business. Deciding which tools are best for your company will help keep it functional and can, also, help increase and expand it.
June 13 UGA Starting a Business
6:00 pm 3 hours @Chicopee Complex, $69 www.georgiasbdc.org The Starting A Business workshop covers important tools and resources a business owner needs to establish a solid foundation during its early formative years.
June23 UGA– Writing A Business Plan
6:00 pm 3 hours @Chicopee Complex, $69 www.georgiasbdc.org A customized step by step integrated action plan that is essential to the success of your business. A customized step by step integrated action plan that is essential to the success of your business.
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CONTENTS Spring 2015
IN EVERY ISSUE:
From the Director 9 Quarter Rewind and Fast Forward 2
CVB Sales Report 2Featured Properties 10
2009
Manufacturer of the Year
NORAMCO was honored with the 2015 Manufacturer of the Year Award
Industry Appreciation Dinner & Awards
Our department hosted our 2nd annual dinner for our local industries
Blazing Trails: Ticket-to-Ride event raises funds and awareness for
Firefly Trail
The Next Generation of Internists
Athens’ St. Mary’s Health Care System teams with GRU/UGA Medical Partnership to train internists
Join us online! #AthensGAUSA
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Contact the Department Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department 246 W. Hancock Ave., Athens, GA 30601 706-613-3233 www.AthensBusiness.org
PublisherDenise Plemmons
Contributors Dr. Andrea Daniel
Amy Lopp Tripp McKenney
Ryan Moore
ON OUR COVER:
NORAMCO, INC.
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Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, is the species of plant from which opium and poppy seeds are derived. Opium is the source of many drugs, including morphine, thebaine, codeine, papaverine, and noscapine. The Latin botanical name means the "sleep-bringing poppy", referring to the sedative properties of some of these opiates.
NORAMCO utilizes patented poppies and innovative technologies to generate high purity narcotic raw materials. Their vertical integration provides a secure supply of opiate derived raw materials, intermediates and API’s for their global customers.
Tasmanian Alkaloids located in Tasmania, Australia is the world’s largest producer of Thebaine and Oripavine. Tasmania’s rich, fertile soils, combined with a maritime, temperate climate and the availability of irrigation to supplement natural rainfall make it the ideal place in the world for improving and harvesting their patented varieties of Papaver Somniferum poppies.
Wilmington, DE Narcotic Intermediates
Narcotic APIs
Athens, GA Multipurpose Narcotic APIs
UK Partner Geel, Belgium
Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Tasmanian Alkaloids Narcotic Raw Materials
Narcotic APIs
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N ORAMCO, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, was formed in 1979 to design, construct and manage a bulk active pharmaceutical ingredient plant in Wilmington, Delaware to support Ortho-McNeil
Pharmaceutical's Tylenol® with codeine business. In 1982, an expansion of the company occurred with a site added in Athens, Georgia and NORAMCO now contributes to a billion dollar franchise in pharmaceutical products worldwide. Specifically the Athens, GA site which employs 210 employees has maintained a positive economic impact of over 20 million dollars including employment and community service programs.
NORAMCO’s excellence in manufacturing goes back to the source of raw material. They are the only US manufacturer vertically integrated backwards to the field. This means that they maintain a distinctive and reliable supply chain for their opiate-derived API’s (active pharmaceutical ingredients) by developing and growing their own patented poppy strain. To support their booming business, Noramco employs a global API supply chain, manages dual US facilities and utilizes affiliate and partner sites in Switzerland, Belgium, UK, and Australia.
NORAMCO has a reputation as an excellent corporate citizen and was recently recognized with an O.W.L. Award (Outstanding Workforce Leader) by the Athens Technical College Foundation. Noramco has developed valuable partnerships with educational institutions, from kindergarten through college, and has donated time and funds to various local charitable organizations.
For example, NORAMCO is a tremendous supporter of the United Way of Northeast Georgia. The average donation for the United Way is $250 per employee. The Athens NORAMCO site employees almost double that amount at close to $500 a head. Employees and the management team are also one of the biggest contributors consistently to the March of Dimes.
Dominique De Yaeger, General Manager, has shared how very proud he is of his employees and team members. Dominique has personally stated that his employees and management team truly rally around community causes. One such cause includes employee Sam Salamone who was a member of LEAD Athens and along with three other members, they created an event and fundraiser called Automatic for Autism. Autism is the fastest growing disability in the United States. With the help of the Chamber of Commerce’s LEAD Athens program and NORAMCO member, Sam Salamone, an endowment fund at the University of Georgia has been created to offset costs for families that cannot afford the necessary clinical support for autistic children.
Additional programs supported by NORAMCO employees include the Adopt-A-Highway, Rivers Alive, American Red Cross, Empowered Youth Program, Prevent Child Abuse Athens, Power of the Purse (a women’s leadership program), and the Georgia 4-H Foundation.
Some of the volunteer efforts of NORAMCO employees and management team include the Military Youth Advisory Council, Boy Scouts, YMCA, the American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Athens Regional and St. Mary’s Hospitals, Day of Caring Program, and the Angel Tree. NORAMCO management supports these efforts in multiple ways including issuing leave hours in exchange for employee involvement in volunteer service to the community.
Education partnerships include Athens Technical College and the K-12 community. NORAMCO recognizes and embraces their role in working together with educational entities to have a skilled and qualified work force. Their partnership with Athens Tech led to NORAMCO being awarded the Outstanding Workforce Leadership Award by the Athens Technical College Foundation.
This has been an exciting year for NORAMCO. Along with their local awards and community achievements, the company also is anticipating the release of innovative new products. A new line of bio-absorbable hemostat cloths which are used to stop bleeding during and after surgical procedures is awaiting approval and will result in a $25 million investment. The company is working on getting a Kickstart project approved.
2015 ATHENS-CLARKE COUNTY MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR
Athens Technical College President Dr. Flora Tydings (3rd from left) presents Susan Daniel, Sandra Mathis & Dominique De Jaeger (all NORAMCO) with the 2015 Manufacturer of the
Year Award at the Industry Appreciation Dinner on April 8, 2015.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015
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Commissioner Harry Sims gives Peterson Spring a key to the city
A thens-Clarke County’s annual Industry Appreciation
Dinner was held last week to celebrate the
contributions that local manufacturers make to the
Athens community. The event was attended by
over 100 guests, including local, State and national elected
officials, community leaders and the captains of industry
throughout Athens. Gus Whalen, of the Warren Featherbone
Foundation, presented the Keynote Speech that inspired the
audience with the persistence and ingenuity of the Warren
Featherbone Company, a business that has been in his family
for over 100 years. The event was held at the recently
renovated Cotton Press in the Chase Park Warehouses.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of the
Manufacturer of the Year Award. Dr. Flora Tydings, president
of Athens Technical College, presented Mr. Dominique De
Jaeger, General Manager of NORAMCO, this prestigious award
for NORAMCO’s significant contributions to our local and
regional economy. NORAMCO, a manufacturer of
pharmaceutical products, has operated in Athens since 1982.
They have had an impact of over 20 million dollars through
employment and community service programs. NORAMCO is
an incredible steward of the Athens community and is deeply
committed to causes of youth development and empowerment,
disaster relief and professional development. Their employees
are frequent volunteers for dozens of local non-profits and the
company contributes substantially to their educational partners
in both the K-12 and technical college systems. “NORAMCO is a
Johnson & Johnson company and as such we run our day to day
business according to the values embedded in Our Credo, ”
shares De Jaeger. “Giving back to the community in which we
have the privilege to operate is a key element of Our Credo.
Being recognized with the “Manufacturer of the Year” award is
a monumental achievement for us at Athens NORAMCO
plant. It shows that we are an integral part of the Athens
community and appreciated for what we do, which is a
top priority for the Johnson & Johnson family of companies.”
NORAMCO was also recently honored with an O.W.L.
(Outstanding Workforce Leader) Award for their impact on the
educational system and the workforce of tomorrow.
NORAMCO is just one of many manufacturers who make a
significant impact on the local economy. However, the impacts
of manufacturing are often overlooked. In Athens-Clarke
County, industrial properties accounted for over ninety million
dollars in tax digest growth from 2013 to 2014 and
manufacturers employed over six thousand workers. Research
has shown that for every job that is created in manufacturing,
an additional 3 are created in support industries in the
community. These jobs are highly desirable, as manufacturing
pays a wage that is 40% higher than the average for our
community.
Several other local manufacturers were honored at the dinner.
Merial, an animal health product company in Athens for over 25
years in Athens, Thornton Brothers, a janitorial supply company
Economic Development Department Director Ryan Moore welcomes the crowd to the second annual Industry Appreciation Dinner & Awards.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015 5
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in Athens for over 75 years, and Peterson Spring, an
engineered metal products company celebrating 100 years of
incorporation, were recipients of Community Commitment
Awards for their ongoing engagement with the Athens
community. Over the years, these companies have employed
hundreds of people and invested directly in the Athens
economy through capital improvements and charitable
donations.
The event was hosted by the Athens-Clarke County Economic
Development Department and sponsored by Georgia Power,
Williams & Associates Land Planners, Pattillo Construction,
Atlanta Gas Light, Athens Regional Medical Center and Athens
First Bank & Trust. Cary Foster of Peterson Spring receives the Community Commitment Award for 100 years in business from Mayor Nancy Denson.
Clay Gilbert and Kerrie Lang of Thornton Brothers receive the Community Commitment Award for 75 years of business in Athens
from Mayor Nancy Denson.
Dr. Roberto Alva of Merial Limited receives the Community Commitment Award for 25 years of business in Athens from Mayor Nancy Denson.
Gus Whalen, of the Warren Featherbone Foundation, presented the Keynote Speech.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015 6
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Blazing Trails: Ticket-to-Ride event raises funds and awareness for Firefly Trail
T he annual Ticket to Ride event, a mass participation bicycle event to promote creation of a 39-mile rail-trail from Athens to Union Point, was attended by a record number of cyclists this year. Over 215 attendees
suited up on March 21st, departing from the Jittery Joe’s Roasting Company on Barber Street to show their support for the proposed pathway. The money raised by the event will fund outreach efforts to further the planning and construction of the trail.
Athens was the first community to jump on board for the construction of the Firefly Trail, including it in its 2005 SPLOST and 2011 SPLOST project lists. Plans call for the trail to follow traverse from Athens through Winterville, Arnoldsville, Crawford, Stephens, Maxeys, Woodville and concluding in Union Point. The exact route has not been finalized beyond Athens-Clarke County’s borders, but the trail is gaining popularity with Oglethorpe and Greene County residents, according to Firefly Trail Inc. president Mike Hall.
Greenways and trails have significant economic impacts on a community. A similar length trail in Virginia sees revenues of 2.2 million dollars annually to the communities it serves, with 1.2 million of those dollars coming from non-local visitors. Trails like this draw in tourism and spur new businesses, from service-related ventures like bike rentals and guided tours to traditional tourism-related operations such as restaurants and lodging facilities. Trails can often serve as the economic engine for small communities. This was the case when the Pinellas Trail, a 38 mile trail running from Tarpon Springs to North St. Petersburg, Florida, was constructed through the small town of Dunedin. At the time, downtown Dunedin was struggling with vacancy rates at 65%. Within a few years of the trail’s completion through town, downtown storefronts were at 100% occupancy and the trail is now touted by residents as having brought the dying town back to life.
Recent studies also show that trails have a considerable positive impact on the value of adjacent property. Land adjacent to an Oregon greenbelt was found to have additional value of $1200 per acre compared to land a mere 1000 feet away. A recent National Association of Homebuilders survey found that trails are the second most important community amenity for potential home buyers, ahead of public parks and outdoor pools. Many other communities have also leveraged these trails for safe commuting alternatives, which make their cities more attractive to the millennials who state that transportation options as one of their top three factors when selecting a place to live. According to Zillow.com, millennials are set to become the largest home-buying bloc by the end of this year and their preferences will dominate the residential housing market for the next few decades.
These types of trails also serve as an educational tool, teaching users about the environment and conservation of natural resources. They often tie in historic preservation efforts, using historic structures as landmarks along the route. Such is the case with the proposed Firefly Trail, which could feature historic train depots as resting places along the route, as well as passing by numerous historic homes.
Athens is fortunate to already have in-place a 3.5 mile multi-use path constructed connecting Sandy Creek Nature Center to Dudley Park and the campus of the University of Georgia. The trail is managed by ACC staff and overseen by the members of the Oconee Rivers Greenway Commission, who assist in the overall design and planning of the trail network, as well as the protection of the adjacent rivers and streams. The existing greenway network and the proposed Firefly Trail will be seamlessly connected, further increasing the transportation and recreation options for Athens’ residents and visitors.
Cyclists at the Winterville Train Depot.
Cyclists at the starting line in the Jittery Joe’s Roasting Company parking lot on Barber Street in Athens.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015 8
The Program. GRU/UGA Medical Partnership, a collaborative
effort between Georgia Regents University and the University
of Georgia, has taken a big step towards addressing the critical
shortage of physicians in Georgia through the creation of The
Internal Medicine Residency Program along with St. Mary’s
Health Care System. Applicants to the program were recently
matched and the first accepted class will begin their residency
education in Athens on July 1, 2015.
“Being the site of the first medical residency program in
Northeast Georgia is a tremendous honor for St. Mary’s,” said
Bruce Middendorf, M.D., St. Mary’s Chief Medical Officer.
“Residents bring new energy and enthusiasm into our clinical
areas. At the same time, working with these new physicians is
exciting for our medical staff. We are looking forward to
welcoming our first-ever residents and to working with them to
further raise the bar for clinical excellence at St. Mary’s and
across Northeast Georgia. This is a great day for our
community.”
Residents are physicians who have completed medical school
and are ready to begin a supervised training period which leads
to medical licensure. This group of physicians will complete a
three-year Internal Medicine residency at St. Mary’s, practicing
alongside experienced doctors to gain sophisticated
knowledge, skills, and experience in their chosen field. Internal
Medicine residents focus specifically on the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of disease in adults.
Economic Impact of the Program. A 2008 report to Georgia’s Board of Regents found that our state would face a shortage of 2,500 physicians by the year 2020 if capacity for medical school students and residents were not expanded. A physician shortage affects more than just the quality of healthcare available to citizens – it also adversely affects the local and state economy. Researchers at UGA’s Carl Vincent Institute of Government found that the average private physician practice provides 13 jobs, $640,000 in personal income for those jobs, and a total economic impact of $1.5 million. Using University of Georgia’s trademarked modeling system to estimate the economic impact of increasing the number of trained physicians by 500 a year beginning in 2016, they determined an increase in economic output of about 8.6%, without a measureable effect on the average amount of economic activity generated per physician. These findings underscore the
importance of educating and training additional physicians and encouraging them to stay and practice in our state.
The Difference-Makers. The inaugural class for Athens internal
medicine residency has a strong connection with Georgia. Five
of the ten selected individuals attended the University of
Georgia for their undergraduate degrees, and one is a “Double
Dawg” who also received his graduate degree through the
Medical Partnership Class, graduating in 2015. Others accepted
have ties to Emory and Georgia Tech and other southeastern
schools.
“We are very pleased that in the first year of our joint
residency program, all 10 available positions have been filled,”
said Don McKenna, St. Mary’s President and CEO. “To me, this
speaks volumes about the attractiveness of our new program
to the next generation of physicians. We are proud to be an
integral part of this effort to bring more medical doctors to
Georgia and to the Athens region in particular.”
“It is a compliment to the community of Athens and the area
physicians that so many applications were filed, and our team
worked hard to identify individuals who would be the best fit
for this program. These 10 individuals will help address the
need for more physicians in the State of Georgia” said Michelle
A. Nuss, M.D., Campus Associate Dean for GME at the GRU/
UGA Medical Partnership.
These residents will arrive in Athens on June 24, 2015, for
orientation and will begin work in the hospital on July 1, 2015.
The internal medicine residency program can accommodate 10
residents in the inaugural year, with another 10 in 2016 and 10
more in 2017 for a maximum of 30 residents total.
Athens’ St. Mary’s Health Care System teams with GRU/UGA Medical
Partnership to train the next generation of internists
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O ne doesn’t have to walk very far in Athens to
become aware of the diversity that exists in this
community. The breadth and depth of
knowledge and experience in this town is as
dense as any major metropolitan city anywhere in the United
States, and yet in Athens, everyone knows their neighbor. This
is a special place.
I recently participated in a bond rating agency meeting for a
bond refunding to occur in Athens. These meetings are an
opportunity for the participants to impress upon rating
agencies such as Moody’s, Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s the
relative strength of our local economy. A higher rating results
in a lower cost of debt and can make a substantial difference
to the Unified Government’s bottom line given the magnitude
of certain bond issuances. The strength in diversity of our local
economy was a common theme heard from the presenters.
You see, we are a diverse people, but we are also a very
diverse economy. Obviously, the education community is our
stalwart. In many ways buffered from the cyclical nature of
the national and local economy, Athens is bolstered by the
relative consistency of the University of Georgia, Athens
Technical College and the nearly 10,000 educational sector
employees working here in Athens. But our economy is more
than that. Outside of the educational sector, major economic
drivers include healthcare, tourism, retail services, and
manufacturing. There aren’t many places that offer that kind
of variety. Delving further into our private business sector, we
are very diverse. Small businesses, the service industry, heavy
manufacturing, and high tech production all take place in
Athens. Not only does this community produce great talent,
we also produce technology, pharmaceuticals, and fighter jet
parts!
So it is important that we embrace this diversity in our
community, in our economy, and also in our economic
development efforts. Economic development must exist in
many different sectors for our community to be a success. We
are privileged to work with our partners here in Athens such
as the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Development
Authority, the Classic Center, UGA, Athens Technical College,
and the CVB among others. We are fortunate to have
professionals engaged in each of these organizations who are
supportive of collaboration.
It is paramount that we all work together. Economic
development is not a zero-sum game which is defined as: a
specific example of constant sum game where the sum of
each outcome is always zero. Such games are distributive, not
integrative; the pie cannot be enlarged by good negotiation.
We must all shift our focus from short term gains to long
terms results.
There are many economic development related organizations
in Athens, and all contribute to the economic development
pie. But to be truly successful, we have to engage and
collaborate in ways that lead to efficient use of resources. In
so doing, we can begin to grow the pie, and not just share it.
Athens is diverse in population, economy, and economic
development. We are proud to work with our partners to
grow together and to create a culture of collaboration.
From the Director
A Culture of Collaboration by Ryan Moore
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015 9
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Featured Building
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Gas: Atlanta Gas Light
Water: Athens-Clarke Water
Sewer: Athens-Clarke Sewer
Electricity: Customer choice
Fire Protection: Athens-Clarke County (ISO 2)
Large established former Athens automobile dealership and former tractor dealership on high traffic Atlanta Highway near the intersection of the Athens Perimeter and Hwy
78 West. Highly visible, Includes showroom and 2 large service buildings on approximately 7.39 Acres. 332 +/- Ft. of road frontage on Atlanta Hwy.
Purchase Price: $2,600,000
Location Address: 2740 Atlanta Highway Athens, Georgia 30606
Building Size: 3 buildings with total square feet
of 31,544
Lot Size: 7.39 acres
Zoning: C-G
Nearest Interstate: I-85 (22 miles)
Nearest Georgia Port: Port of Savannah Garden City Terminal (225 miles)
Nearest International Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (66.5 miles)
Rail Served No
Freeport Taxes: 100% EXEMPTION, CLASS 1 RAW MATERIALS, CLASS 2 GOODS IN PROCESS/
FINISHED GOODS, CLASS 3 TRANS-SHIPMENT GOODS, Tier 2: Job Tax Credits $3,000 per job, 5%
Investment Tax Credit, & other Tax Incentives
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015
2740 ATLANTA HIGHWAY
2740 ATLANTA HWY
PROPERTY INFORMATION
UTILITIES
TRANSPORTATION
TAXES & INCENTIVES
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Featured Acreage
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The property is mostly wooded with a mix of hardwoods and pines. There is a creek running
through the northwest portion of the property with a few additional fingers running off of it. It's
a large industrial site in the Athena Industrial Park that adjoins other property also for sale
that could be assembled into over 455 acres with access to CSX Rail.
For Sale: Yes
For Lease: No
Acreage Price: $15,000
Location Address: Pittard Road
Athens, GA 30601
Lot Size: 193.7 acres
Will Subdivide?: Yes
Zoning: AR
Millage Rate: 13.70
Opportunity Zone: No
Gas: Atlanta Gas Light
Water: Athens-Clarke Water (12 in)
Sewer: Athens-Clarke Sewer (8 in)
Electricity: Customer choice
Fire Protection: Athens-Clarke County (ISO 2)
193.7
acres
Nearest Interstate: I-85 (23 miles)
Nearest Georgia Port: Port of Savannah Garden City Terminal (217 miles)
Nearest International Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (85 miles)
Rail Served CSX Rail access on the northern edge of the property
Freeport Taxes: 100% EXEMPTION, CLASS 1 RAW MATERIALS, CLASS 2 GOODS IN PROCESS/
FINISHED GOODS, CLASS 3 TRANS-SHIPMENT GOODS, Tier 2: Job Tax Credits $3,000 per job, 5%
Investment Tax Credit, & other Tax Incentives
BULLOCK TRACT
ATHENS, GA USA
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT www.AthensBusiness.org 706-613-3233 Spring 2015
ATHENA INDUSTRIAL PARK BULLOCK TRACT
PROPERTY INFORMATION
UTILITIES
TRANSPORTATION
TAXES & INCENTIVES
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You support schools, police and fire departments. When
you shop small, the bulk of the money you spend and
most of your taxes stay local — helping schools, paving
streets, keeping you safe. According to the research
firm Civic Economics, for every $100 you spend:
In a local small business, $68 stays in your
community.
At a local branch of a chain store, $43 remains in
your community.
You’ll raise your property values. Lively, vibrant
neighborhood shopping streets are considered an
advantage when selling a home. They make your
property more valuable.
You’ll strengthen your community. Local businesses are
owned by people who live in your town, go to your
church or synagogue, donate to local animal shelters,
coach Little League teams. When you spend money in
their stores and cafes, you support your neighbors.
SUPPORT THE AREA WHERE YOU
LIVE, WORK AND PLAY.
