The executive director of the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce says it’s important to shop local, especially before the holidays.
Amanda Mombourquette says they encourage you to keep money in the local economy because it strengthens local businesses.
She says small business owners are usually the ones supporting local sports teams and other community organizations.
Mombourquette tells The Hawk there are a number of ways chamber officials try to spread the shop local message.
“We do all kinds of member-to-member discounts as well,” she says. “You can get discounts if you’re a member of the chamber at various businesses, whether it’s advertising, pizza, you name it; there’s all kinds of opportunities like that, that the chamber takes to remind people that there’s great value in shopping local.”
Mombourquette says they also help members promote their special offers through social media.