The upcoming holiday season is urging shoppers in Maricopa to support local businesses during this Saturday's "Small Business Saturday." As reported by Maricopa's official website, the city is emphasizing the importance of local commerce by encouraging residents to spend their holiday shopping dollars within their own streets and neighborhoods.
In a notable move by city officials, red tape for local entrepreneurs has been cut by eliminating the need for small business licenses, this shift allows business owners to focus more on their crafts and offerings rather than bureaucratic hurdles, as highlighted in Maricopa's recent post. Moreover, the city is utilizing events such as Copa Cultural and Merry Copa to provide stages for these businesses, permitting them to flaunt their goods to a broader swath of the local populace. Mayor Nancy Smith stated "It’s estimated the City of Maricopa loses approximately $1.3 billion every year to neighboring cities because residents aren’t shopping locally. We want to change that.”
Mayor Smith elucidated, "Economics point to studies that suggest 68 cents of every dollar spent at a small business stays within the local economy, generating an additional 48 cents in activity." This financial retention bolsters the community as small businesses frequently patronize each other, thus nurturing a sturdy local economy that benefits all stakeholders involved, as noted by the city's official website.
Beyond the economics, the initiative invites Maricopa's residents to partake in building a more connected community, with several ways to get involved: patrons are encouraged to unearth what local stores have to offer, celebrate their finds on social media using hashtags like #ShopSmallMaricopa, magnify these businesses' reach with positive online reviews, and consider the gift of supporting local artisans and service providers – Mayor Smith's remarks and City Manager Ben Bitter's insights emphasize the significant influence that local shopping can exert on the communal fabric, the latter remarking, "For every dollar spent here in Maricopa, that same dollar circulates through our community up to seven times. So, every dollar really does count," a statement obtained by Maricopa's official website.
