With Halloween behind us we're looking toward the quickly approaching holiday season and are excited about all our downtown has to offer. But with the ease of internet shopping our local downtowns can sometimes be overlooked. So why does shopping small and supporting local matter so much?

Local Businesses help your community thrive.

When you support a local business you support the people who sponsor our youth sports teams, who buy ads supporting the local theater and arts programs, who donate items for local events and who give to local nonprofit fundraisers. 

According to an article on fundera.com: "$68 for every $100 stays in the community when spent at a local business. When spending the same at a non-local business like a national chain, only $43 stays in your community." 

Additionally, according to Unitedwestand.org, "Studies have shown that local businesses donate to community causes at more than twice the rate of chains."

It's not just individuals and organizations that benefit from a thriving downtown, the whole neighborhood gets a boost. According to forbes.com,

"Neighborhoods served by successful small businesses see home values increase 50 percent on average, according to the alliance...As real estate prices grow, communities can attract new investments to spur continued economic growth. 

...An influx of new residents increases local tax revenue, which can be used to invest in infrastructure such as schools, public safety departments, libraries and parks that strengthen communities and drive future growth."

In short, it's not just that our local small businesses need you; we need our local small businesses. They are the backbone of our community and they support so much of what makes us great. This Small Business Saturday and throughout the year, let's support them too. 

Small business Saturday is November 30. Follow us on Facebook for profiles of our local small businesses and details on promotions, deals, celebrations and sales they offer through the holidays and throughout the year.

Have feedback or questions? Get in touch with us, we're here to help you.  

-Lapeer Main Street

Illuminate Lapeer is a campaign designed to enhance the ambience of historic Lapeer. By partnering with the City of Lapeer, the campaign aims to remove the "Cobra Lights" along Nepessing Street and upgrading the existing classic style street lamps that also line Nepessing St.  The result would be better quality lighting and an enhanced historic look to our downtown. The total project has a cost of about $110,000. This includes the removal of the cobra lights, upgrading the classic street lamps to a more efficient, higher quality of light LED bulb, and replacing the semi-opaque domes with a clear dome that will better disperse the light.  

The City of Lapeer has agreed that if Lapeer Main Street can raise $30,000 toward this project then they will contribute the additional $80,000 needed to make it a reality. The Lapeer DDA has put in $5000, which means our goal is to raise $25,000.
This is where we turn to you and ask for your support. We ask that you please considering make a donation of support of $150 to help us Illuminate Lapeer. Of course, a donation of any level will be welcome and appreciated!

To donate click here.

For more information or to donate contact the DDA at James@LapeerDDA.com

 

The Lapeer Main Street Program is committed to preserving the historic significance of downtown Lapeer while enhancing our community and becoming a vibrant destination for residents and visitors to live, shop, work, and play.

We recognize that downtown Lapeer is on the rise, and we're dedicated to preserving our history while growing economically and focusing on creating a more vibrant community by working together. 

Historic Lapeer, Remarkably Close.