LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor:

Over the past two years we have had the opportunity to serve on a local committee to promote the concept of “SHOP LOCAL” and all of the benefits that creates in the community. We have spread this message using posters, newspaper ads, social media, infomercials produced by the Plainville High School Forensics class and word of mouth. The out-of-pocket expenses were generously funded by Heartland Community Foundation in cooperation with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, which joins us in recognizing that all the things that we appreciate about living in Rural America are being negatively impacted by the trend to shop on-line to save a few cents.

If we as a community don’t make an effort to patronize our local vendors and contractors whenever possible, they will eventually close their businesses and move elsewhere. Their children will no longer attend our schools and another storefront will be dark, another house will be vacant.

Local businesses and their employees pay property taxes, sales taxes, and income taxes that help fund all of the essential services that are necessary to build and maintain the infrastructure necessary for a community to function. Roads, bridges, streets, schools, law enforcement, emergency services and so much more are negatively impacted. If a business ceases to exist, the taxes to pay for the services that benefit everyone will be increased on remaining property and homeowners in order to cover the loss in revenue.

Local businesses provide service with a smile when you want personal attention for deliveries, questions, repairs, etc. By shopping locally, 70% of the purchase amount stays in the local community to pay salaries, taxes, utilities and circulate to other businesses and individuals.

When our community groups, churches, and schools need help funding their efforts and projects, amazon.com and some other online retailers are not here to help, or even respond. Community groups must look to all of the local business and citizens to fund the efforts that enhance the lives of our citizens.

That’s why we encourage you with our simple motto: Shop Rooks 3/65! Be deliberate about spending at least $65 across 3 Rooks County businesses each month, each week, or each shopping spree as your budget allows. Remember to shop local 365 days a year. This is one simple thing that we can all do to help revive our community and build a better future. Spend our purchasing dollars here at home, where the money stays in the community and benefits us all. So please “SHOP

So please “SHOP LOCAL” whenever possible so we all can continue to enjoy the lifestyle we have and our relatives, friends, and neighbors can continue help raising our children and instill the rural mid-western values that made us what we are.

We would also like to remind you to properly complete and submit the 2020 Census forms when they are mailed to you in the near future. If citizens are not counted, this could cause funding to be decreased for many federal and state funding programs that are utilized in our community. Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Frank Rajewski

Brett Greenwood

Shirley Comeau

Gail Becker

Kim Rounsley

Kathy Ramsay

Candace Rachel

Roger Hrabe

John Ruder

Plainville Chamber of Commerce

Stockton Chamber of Commerce