Build community:
The casual encounters you enjoy at neighborhood–scale businesses and the public spaces around them build relationships and community cohesiveness.
Boosts local economy:
Money spent at locally owned businesses supports local families and stays in the local market, there fore boosting the local economy.
Shape our character and unique identity:Independent businesses help give our community its distinct personality.
Less waste: Because of the shorter distribution chains for local foods, less food is wasted in distribution, warehousing and merchandising.
Creates a healthier environment:
Independent, community-serving businesses are people-sized. They typically consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution.
Attracts tourists:
Local foods promote agritourism—farmers’ markets and opportunities to visit farms and local food producers help draw tourists to a region.
