Buy Local & Support Our Community

Locally owned independent businesses return approximately 80% of each dollar spent back to the community. This assists the community through a “multiplier effect”: one dollar spent at a locally owned business will return five times that amount within the community through employees’ wages, and purchases of materials and supplies at other independent businesses.

 BUY LOCAL - BE VOCAL - BE VISIBLE

BUY LOCAL is an ongoing campaign whose purpose is to make NW Montana residents aware of the positive economic benefits associated with shopping and buying products and services locally.

Incentives to Buy Local

Preserve NW Montana's unique character. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this 'Last Best Place'. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.”

~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust

BE A HERO by creating more jobs. Small local businesses are the largest employers nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.

BE GREEN - Locally owned businesses make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

BE BETTER by providing better service. Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know and support their customers.

BE AN INVESTOR in our 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.

BE TAX THRIFTY because local businesses require little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

BE PROSPEROUS - Entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.

Think before you buy!

Case studies have shown that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base. Our local non-profit organizations receive substantially more support from small businesses than they do from large businesses.

What is Buy Local Montana?

Buy Local Montana is a non-profit organization with the sole purpose to help create a greater awareness with both consumers and businesses regarding the positive effect of keeping our dollars local whenever it is appropriate.

Buylocalmontana.com offers business members many resources and encourages local businesses to look to each other for their product and supply needs. In no way does Buy Local Montana encourage anyone not to do business with any non-local company or entity, and in fact recognizes the important economic role that interstate, national, and international companies play in any community.

Buy Local Montana wants to encourage consumers and businesses to do business with local companies whenever possible, however, as the sustainable long term impact for Montana communities when doing so is undeniably positive!