As we enter the holiday shopping season, North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jennifer DeSena and Councilmembers Peter Zuckerman, Dennis Walsh, Veronica Lurvey, and Mariann Dalimonte today joined with local merchants, members of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, and Executive Director of Vision Long Island Eric Alexander in downtown Manhasset to remind residents of the benefits of shopping locally this holiday season.
“As small businesses are faced with the pressures of inflation and economic uncertainty, I challenge our residents to prioritize ‘shop local, spend local, eat local, and enjoy local’ over the next 4 and a half weeks leading up to Christmas,” Supervisor Jennifer DeSena said. “Small businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy, and when you shop local, more of your hard-earned money stays right here in our communities, strengthening downtown areas and supporting local jobs. Each and every purchase at a small business makes a difference not just for them, but for our community too, as these local businesses often reinvest in our communities by raising funds for charities or sponsoring youth athletics.”
The Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce, an umbrella organization representing over 40 Chambers of Commerce, joined Supervisor DeSena and members of the Town Board in launching this ‘shop local, spend local’ campaign to keep local dollars in the economy, support local jobs, build a strong tax base, and ensure investments in the local community. While the popularity of online shopping continues to grow, it does not support local merchants who directly contribute to the betterment and vitality of our neighborhoods.
“Small businesses employ over half of all private sector employees, create two out of every three jobs nationally, and for every $100 spent at a local business, approximately $70 remains in the community,” Supervisor DeSena said. “When you shop local, you not only keep your hard-earned money in our local community instead of spending it with a faceless online retailer, you also have the opportunity to support a neighbor, and keep our communities and downtowns vibrant.”