Buy Locally Owned

Top 10 Reasons To Shop Local First

1. Significantly More Money Re-Circulates In East Central Iowa.

When you purchase at locally owned businesses rather than nationally owned, more money is kept in the community because locally-owned businesses often purchase from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Purchasing local helps grow other businesses as well as the East Central Iowa tax base.

2. Non Profits Receive Greater Support.

Local business owners donate more to local charities than non-local owners.

3. Unique Businesses Create Character & Prosperity

The unique character of East Central Iowa is what brought us here and keeps us here. Our tourism businesses also benefit.

4. Environmental Impact Is Reduced.

Local businesses make more local purchases requiring less transportation and usually set up shop in town centers rather than on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

5. Most New Jobs Are Provided By Local Businesses.

Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally.

6. Customer Service Is Better.

Local businesses often hire people with more specific product expertise for better customer service.

7. Local Business Owners Invest In Community.

Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

8. Public Benefits Far Outweigh Public Costs.

Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure and more efficiently utilize public services relative to chain stores.

9. Competition And Diversity Leads To More Consumer Choices.

A marketplace of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.

10. Investment In East Central Iowa Is Encouraged.

A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

Cares Connection Donation

Forbes was honored to offer two employees and our truck for two full days to Iowa Telecom and Meals from the Heartland. Forbes provided support to Iowa Telecom to relocate office furniture and equipment that had been donated to Meals from the Heartland.  We encourage you to read what Scott Brunscheen has to say about the donation and Meals from the Heartland:

“In behalf of Meals from the Heartland, I want to thank you for donating your labor and transportation services to meals from the Heartland to bring two truckloads of donated office furniture and equipment from Newton to our new office in West Des Moines.”

“We are blessed to be living in the breadbasket of America, and few of us have ever experienced real hunger, The statistics are more than disturbing: every five seconds a child dies of hunger in the world, with more than 16,000 children dying every day. Meals from the heartland is dedicated to packaging and donating food to impact hunger in the world.”

“Last Fall, Meals from the Heartland saw more than 15,000 volunteers come together at Hy-Vee Hall over Labor Day weekend for the second annual food packaging event. Volunteers from every age and walk of life were represented, including individuals, schools as well as groups from businesses and churches. They worked together in teams of 8-10 people and their efforts resulted in 4,019,904 meals packaged that were shipped to Haiti and other parts of the world.”

“All of us associated with organizing Meals from the Heartland are proud of our friends and neighbors who support this cause, as well as the many businesses and churches for making this possible. Because of this support, Meals from the Heartland is the largest and most massive humanitarian effort of its kind in the country.”

“We give thanks to God for every prayer, gift of volunteer service and financial support that allows us to serve the poor. Thank you for your gift to support our mission!”

Sincerely,

Scott Brunscheen

To learn more about Meals from the Heartland, or to make a donation, please visit their website:

http://www.mealsfromtheheartland.org

Cares Connection Donation

Forbes Quick Print recently donated some much needed printing to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, Newton Branch. Please take time to visit their website and learn more about how you too can help.

http://www.bbbsia.org

About BBBS:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa (BBBSCI) is a non-profit mentoring agency founded in 1967 by local leaders. BBBSCI was formed to meet the glaring need in the community for a way to prevent at-risk children from entering the court system by providing them with a positive role model.

BBBSCI identifies children in need of a mentor and matches them with a caring individual. The relationship that develops between the matches helps the children grow into adulthood with the self-esteem and skills necessary to be productive citizens.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa mentors children, ages 6-14, in many communities from Dallas to Wapello County. We have offices in the Des Moines, Newton, Ottumwa and Oskaloosa.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa is a proud partner agency of United Way and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, who have been America’s preeminent national youth-serving organization for more than 100 years.