Oconee County, GA business may be suffering as a result of the economic recession that we are going through right now.
But you've got to give the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce credit for taking positive control over the situation.
They've managed to turn what might otherwise have been a devastating economic free fall into a proactive initiative to revitalize and breathe new life into the local economy.
They are doing this through sponsorship of what they have aptly termed the "goLocal" initiative.
It is a program that advocates strong support for investing your dollars into local Oconee County, GA business rather than spending your money outside of the county.
The organizers of the goLocal initiative have built this as their own grass-roots "economic stimulus".
Rather than relying on federal tax dollars being pumped into businesses from the top down, goLocal advocates that Oconee County businesses and consumers give priority to local businesses for the purchase of goods and services rather than buying things on the Internet or transacting commerce with businesses outside of the county.
So just exactly how does the Oconee County business goLocal initiative actually work? While participation in the program is strictly voluntary and there is no immediate, up front economic incentive for doing so, the benefits of the program are espoused through an aggressive marketing campaign that touts the long term benefits that could be realized over the long term.
Pamphlets and flyers are being made available for mass distribution.
To establish awareness and recognition for this campaign, a distinctly unique logo has been created for marketing purposes.
This logo is available for displaying in local business windows, signs, and other marketing materials.
Participants in the goLocal program are encouraged to display this information prominently at their place of business to get the word out.
Now, the concept of investing locally is not new.
But it is a topic that is subject to a lot of debate in this country.
After all, the federal government has pledged untold hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus aid with the aim of pumping money back into the economy.
Many economists have argued that this top-down approach will be largely ineffective, providing, at the very least, a marginal, short-term boost in certain sectors of the economy.
The idea of investing locally, from the bottom up, works on an entirely different principle.
Buying locally is, in a manner speaking, a means of developing self-sufficiency, not being dependent on bailout money from the federal government.
When all members of a community invest within that community, you strengthen the economic base of that community.
This, in turn, spurs local job creation.
And the creation of local jobs increases the likelihood that high school and college graduates will be able to find work in their local communities without having to relocate elsewhere.
If one community can lift itself up by its proverbial bootstraps and become self-sufficient economic powerhouse, then who's to say that neighboring communities won't be attracted toward this one, seeking employment, seeking to make purchases from, or to transact business with it? Once a local community becomes prosperous as a whole, it will be able to benefit its neighboring communities, thus creating an economic domino effect.
This domino effect is the ultimate aim of the goLocal project.
By first strengthening local Oconee County businesses, and bolstering the county's economic viability and self-sufficiency, its success will inevitably permeate through neighboring communities.
If we can get the word out to other counties that they could benefit by following suit and adopting the principles of the goLocal campaign, then we can revitalize the nation's economy, one county at a time, entirely from the ground up.
This involves absolutely no risk of the tax payers' dollars, the way that Washington has taken upon itself to do.
In fact, by spending locally on Oconee County business, our tax dollars will remain within the county and will go toward further supporting the developing of the local infrastructure, utilities, public works, and schools.
If you were to make purchases on the Internet or in other counties, you will not be able to see your tax dollars at work to benefit your local community.
But you've got to give the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce credit for taking positive control over the situation.
They've managed to turn what might otherwise have been a devastating economic free fall into a proactive initiative to revitalize and breathe new life into the local economy.
They are doing this through sponsorship of what they have aptly termed the "goLocal" initiative.
It is a program that advocates strong support for investing your dollars into local Oconee County, GA business rather than spending your money outside of the county.
The organizers of the goLocal initiative have built this as their own grass-roots "economic stimulus".
Rather than relying on federal tax dollars being pumped into businesses from the top down, goLocal advocates that Oconee County businesses and consumers give priority to local businesses for the purchase of goods and services rather than buying things on the Internet or transacting commerce with businesses outside of the county.
So just exactly how does the Oconee County business goLocal initiative actually work? While participation in the program is strictly voluntary and there is no immediate, up front economic incentive for doing so, the benefits of the program are espoused through an aggressive marketing campaign that touts the long term benefits that could be realized over the long term.
Pamphlets and flyers are being made available for mass distribution.
To establish awareness and recognition for this campaign, a distinctly unique logo has been created for marketing purposes.
This logo is available for displaying in local business windows, signs, and other marketing materials.
Participants in the goLocal program are encouraged to display this information prominently at their place of business to get the word out.
Now, the concept of investing locally is not new.
But it is a topic that is subject to a lot of debate in this country.
After all, the federal government has pledged untold hundreds of billions of dollars in stimulus aid with the aim of pumping money back into the economy.
Many economists have argued that this top-down approach will be largely ineffective, providing, at the very least, a marginal, short-term boost in certain sectors of the economy.
The idea of investing locally, from the bottom up, works on an entirely different principle.
Buying locally is, in a manner speaking, a means of developing self-sufficiency, not being dependent on bailout money from the federal government.
When all members of a community invest within that community, you strengthen the economic base of that community.
This, in turn, spurs local job creation.
And the creation of local jobs increases the likelihood that high school and college graduates will be able to find work in their local communities without having to relocate elsewhere.
If one community can lift itself up by its proverbial bootstraps and become self-sufficient economic powerhouse, then who's to say that neighboring communities won't be attracted toward this one, seeking employment, seeking to make purchases from, or to transact business with it? Once a local community becomes prosperous as a whole, it will be able to benefit its neighboring communities, thus creating an economic domino effect.
This domino effect is the ultimate aim of the goLocal project.
By first strengthening local Oconee County businesses, and bolstering the county's economic viability and self-sufficiency, its success will inevitably permeate through neighboring communities.
If we can get the word out to other counties that they could benefit by following suit and adopting the principles of the goLocal campaign, then we can revitalize the nation's economy, one county at a time, entirely from the ground up.
This involves absolutely no risk of the tax payers' dollars, the way that Washington has taken upon itself to do.
In fact, by spending locally on Oconee County business, our tax dollars will remain within the county and will go toward further supporting the developing of the local infrastructure, utilities, public works, and schools.
If you were to make purchases on the Internet or in other counties, you will not be able to see your tax dollars at work to benefit your local community.
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