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Highlands Today

Shopping Locally Will Help Stimulate Local Economy

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 14, 2008

It's a sickening sight to see our local businesses struggle and some not make it. We all can count off numerous businesses that not so long ago seemed to be doing fine, and now their buildings are empty.

The feeling goes beyond the inconvenience of not having access to a particular service or goods. It's the thought that local people, our friends, neighbors and loved ones, are struggling and - perhaps - lost their life's savings on a failed business.

Any good American roots on an entrepreneur who lays it on the line to chase a dream. When they are successful, we are proud of their success. Americans love winners. When they fail, we share in their sorrow, because although we might not have had money involved, many of us share the dream of starting a business. Most of these businesses failed through no fault of their own.

Beyond the loss of money, we see families struggling to make ends meet. When a spouse loses his or her job, it puts everyday life into a dire situation. What little disposable income that was there is now gone. Children are less likely to participate in enriching activities because parents can't afford it any more. It's a sad situation for everyone. And sometimes the families have to move on to look for work, and we lose valuable members of our communities.

Let's hope the coming "season" is good to local businesses and helps them hang on a bit longer and outlast this sour economy. Almost every sector of business in Highlands County is feeling the crunch, so few of us are immune to the insecurity of this difficult business climate.

Shopping here in Highlands County is one way to help. Our merchants have plenty to offer if we just look. Those big Christmas shopping trips to Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale are not necessary. In these troubling times, we should support local businesses that employ us and improve quality of life.

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