Be That Neighbor Launches New Initiative: Let's Boost Small Business!

Article by Becky Fillinger

It’s November and Be That Neighbor is launching a new initiative – Let’s Boost Small Businesses!

Before we launch our small business boost initiative, we should state the obvious - 2020 has seen hundreds of Twin Cities small businesses close permanently. These are businesses that pay local taxes and employ us and our neighbors. Why else is it important to support local small businesses? I’ll list a few, but welcome feedback and ask that you chime in with other reasons too.

Community Involvement – Who do you turn to for donations for youth sports teams, nonprofit donations, guest lecturers at events? For Be That Neighbor, we know that local small businesses are always there to support our charity events. Last year for our fundraising event, we received in-kind donations from Bacon Social House, Wasabi Fusion, Umbra, Smith and Porter, Pog Mahones, Conexion, Crooked Pint, Keefer Court, Kindee, Afro Deli, Guthrie Theater, Trader Joe’s, Mill City Times and the Mill City Museum. We could not have put on a successful fundraiser without their support.

Community Identity – Check out the North Loop or the Sheridan neighborhood as examples. It’s the small businesses that give the character and appeal to the area. One-of-a-kind and locally made products can attract customers to a community – like Steller Handcrafted Goods.

Community Congeniality – Small business owners know their customers’ names. They know the other small business owners on the block. They give referrals to other small businesses.

Community Health – Walking to local businesses can reduce automobile use and urban sprawl. They encourage walking, biking or taking local transit. From my apartment in downtown Minneapolis, I can walk to grocery stores, fitness studios, chiropractors, coffee shops, art supply shops, bakeries and many more.

Increased Tax Base – When you shop at small businesses, the tax dollars stay here. This sparks more economic development.

Local Jobs - Small businesses create jobs. Period.

Will you join us in supporting and boosting local small businesses? Share a positive comment on your interactions with the business and its products or services. Tag it so that the business sees all the positive reinforcement.