5 REASONS TO SUPPORT LOCAL

The benefits of buying local are long, from supporting your local communities’ economy, reducing the carbon footprint, reducing local unemployment, eating healthier, more nutritious foods, to staying informed about basic needs. Buying local meat, produce and other food products can help you eat healthier, create more community in an increasingly isolated culture, and connect the dots from farm to table. Perhaps most importantly, supporting local means we are helping our local economy thrive in more ways than one so our entire community can benefit and prosper.

Why Support Local?

1. Creates local jobs.

Across the nation, small businesses are the largest private sector employers, creating jobs for nearly 70% of the total private labour force. They help reduce unemployment within their communities by offering locals the chance to be productive members of society. Local jobs also reduce commute time, traffic, and pollution.

2. Local businesses often stock or use other local products and services.

Small businesses have the connections to source and produce goods from local providers that larger corporations do not (or simply do not care about). Being part of the small business community, they also tend to advertise one another’s products and services. All of this helps create a self-sustaining economy that becomes resilient to financial instability.

3. Stimulates local economy.

More businesses – and thriving businesses – in the local economy will generate more tax income for local governments. That tax money then goes back into local infrastructure, such as road repairs, new schools and playgrounds, and other public services that can benefit the entire community.

4. Local businesses are more likely to give back to community initiatives.

Because local businesses are usually owned by people who are a part of the community, the owners are therefore more likely to reinvest in its development. Most local business owners know one another on a personal level and try to help their neighbor’s and families wherever possible – be it through charities and donations, knowledge-building events, or sponsoring recreational activities.

5. Reduces environmental impact.

Supporting local helps reduce our carbon footprint. When you shop local, not only is there less need for processing, transportation, and shipping materials, but small businesses also tend to set up around a single central area in their town which reduces undue impact on the nature and ecosystem.

How to Support the Tourism Businesses in Our Region

You can purchase unique holiday gifts from local stores, share stories about them on social media, book appointments for when certain businesses are open, and even reach out to business owners to see if there are other ways to support them. Take advantage of the many Family owned restaurants and small businesses in our area.

Some local favourites to consider:

• Mr. Mikes
• Better than Fred’s
• Red Rock Urban BBQ
• Jackpot Grill
• Frontier Eatery & Saloon
• Monica’s Family Restaurant
• Latitude 55
• Grande Prairie Farmers Market
• Café on 43 in Wembley
• Shopping Local:
• Al’s news
• Broken Tine Orchard

Looking for a boutique shopping experience? Check out our list of favourites in the City Centre and the one-of-a-kind Regional Local Shops – both can be found in our Shopping blog here.

For other ideas about where you can shop close to home, check out:

• Alberta Mamas blog
• Support local Grande Prairie
• Sexsmith Farmers market
• Grande Prairie farmers market
• Beaverlodge Farmers Market

Activities and Experiences:

Fortunately, businesses focused on outdoor activities remain open, like Nitehawk Year-Round Adventure Park, Wapiti Nordic Ski Center, and more! Find more about these businesses and their info in our Snowy Escapades Grande Plan.

Take a Staycation:

Our regional accommodation partners invite you to enjoy a staycation within our region. Since travel is not encouraged during this time, use your vacation days or weekends to escape for some R&R at these fantastic locations close to home, but offering many of the same amenities found elsewhere:

• Four Points by Sheraton
• Encore Suites
• Service Plus Inn and Suites
• Sandman Hotel Group

For more great accommodation options, you can visit our Hotels blog!

We hope this article helps you discover (or rediscover) the remarkable beauty and versatility of the Grande Prairie region and the importance of supporting local – particularly during such a critical economic time. Share your favourite small businesses in our region with us on social media by using the hashtag #GPTourism!