Mt. Hood Lanes has reopened! Last night the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce held it’s monthly Try Local First Event in person. For the first time since the pandemic locked down the Gresham Ford team got to have a night out. After being separated from our friends and fellow business owners and operators has been difficult. Mt Hood Lanes did a great job enabling social distancing by keeping every other lane closed. Before you knew it they were operating at Covid capacity.
Gresham Ford chose to commit to the Gresham Area Chamber of Commerce Try Local First program years ago because strong businesses make stronger communities. General Manager, Bess Wills takes every advantage to Shop Local in the Gresham Area and encourage others to do the same.
“Often times it is just a matter of sharing locally available options for the needs we all have. It is easy to go to Amazon for every need but if we can put forth a bit more effort and explore what is offered right here in Gresham, it will benefit us all.”
Five Ways Shopping Local Benefits the Community
When you chose to shop local, you are investing in the Gresham area. For every $100 spent, roughly $68 to $73 of it returns to your local community.
- Money stays where you spend it. When you spend money at a local business they pay their staff who then spend their money at the sandwich shop around the corner. The more we all dedicate ourselves to shopping local the stronger and more prosperous the Gresham area can be.
- Reduce your environmental impact. Transportation has a big ugly carbon footprint. When you chose local it reduces the transportation involved. This is the part that helps us personally choose local over Amazon.
- Generate taxes & local support. When you spend your hard earned dollars locally those businesses then pay the associated monies via taxes. That means when you shop local you are also supporting schools, first responders, parks, roads, etc.
- Non-Profits & Charities Benefit Too. Locally owned businesses donate more to local charities than big national chain stores. When our local charities like SnowCap Community Charities and My Fathers House are better funded and supported our community is stronger and will thrive.
- Create More Local Jobs. Nationally small businesses are the largest employer. And really none of us wants to drive into Portland on a daily basis. The more you chose to shop locally the more Gresham business owners will have the need to hire. This means less people commuting farther and a better environment for us all.
More than just bowling
So it may appear that we were just bowling with friends but it is so much more. We bowled a few games, ate a few chicken strips and pizza. Not only did we have a great time but Mt Hood Lanes is feeling better today and seeing the light at the end of the covid tunnel.
It has always been hard being a business owner but the pandemic has stretched many to the breaking point. Showing our local business owners some love is so important and impactful right now especially.
So we would like to ask a favor. The next time you have the opportunity to make a purchase, take the time to Try Local First. We think you will love the local experience and maybe even meet someone new. Shopping local helps make our community stronger. Getting to know your neighbors can be fun and rewarding. Give it a try and show so love this spring.
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