Celina Record > News
Promoting local businesses: Chambers, cities incorporate a variety of techniques to keep dollars local
By Bill Conrad, bconrad@starlocalnews.com
Consumers have a myriad of options when they are searching for new goods.
Someone seeking the new best-selling novel or an Academy Award-winning DVD can choose to go to a local store or purchase the items from one of thousands of online shops. While the price may be better online, local politicians and chambers of commerce are urging residents to shop local.
“We have what we call Plano First, a public information campaign to help educate consumers about keeping their tax dollars local,” said Jamee Jolly, executive director of the Plano Chamber of Commerce. “We also have tools to help our members and local residents find businesses that fit their needs.”
The Plano Chamber’s website has a search function where users can locate businesses based on what they need. This helps local tax dollars stay in the city, Jolly said.
“In Plano, we are about 52 percent commercial and 48 percent residential, so a lot of the tax burden we rely on comes from the commercial base,” Jolly said. “This makes it crucial we support that base, which helps ensure our property taxes remain low.”
Another city that recently launched a campaign to encourage residents to spend their dollars inside the city limits is Flower Mound, which launched Living Local at the beginning of the month.
Flower Mound Mayor Tom Hayden said if cities are to provide the services their residents demand, local businesses must be supported.
“It is important to support our local businesses, as it not only promotes jobs within our community and small business owners, but it is also an integral part of the town’s ability to fund municipal services,” Hayden wrote in a statement. “The town's ability to maintain our roads, build additional parks and trails, and maintain a safe community is directly tied to the success of our local businesses.”
Living Local incorporates a mobile website with listings of businesses, as well as an event calendar and a section where city news is posted. Town Communications Manager Molly Fox said Flower Mound is already known as the premier medical destination in southern Denton County, and the town is now working to promote its shopping and dining options.
Tony Felker, executive director of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber and city of Frisco focus their efforts on informing consumers on what local tax dollars do for the city and school district. He said ensuring people understand this is important for the future health and growth of both entities.
The Plano Chamber’s business directory can be located at members.planochamber.plonka.com/list. Flower Mound’s new mobile website is livinglocalfm.com. The Frisco Chamber can be reached at friscochamber.com.
Someone seeking the new best-selling novel or an Academy Award-winning DVD can choose to go to a local store or purchase the items from one of thousands of online shops. While the price may be better online, local politicians and chambers of commerce are urging residents to shop local.
“We have what we call Plano First, a public information campaign to help educate consumers about keeping their tax dollars local,” said Jamee Jolly, executive director of the Plano Chamber of Commerce. “We also have tools to help our members and local residents find businesses that fit their needs.”
The Plano Chamber’s website has a search function where users can locate businesses based on what they need. This helps local tax dollars stay in the city, Jolly said.
“In Plano, we are about 52 percent commercial and 48 percent residential, so a lot of the tax burden we rely on comes from the commercial base,” Jolly said. “This makes it crucial we support that base, which helps ensure our property taxes remain low.”
Another city that recently launched a campaign to encourage residents to spend their dollars inside the city limits is Flower Mound, which launched Living Local at the beginning of the month.
Flower Mound Mayor Tom Hayden said if cities are to provide the services their residents demand, local businesses must be supported.
“It is important to support our local businesses, as it not only promotes jobs within our community and small business owners, but it is also an integral part of the town’s ability to fund municipal services,” Hayden wrote in a statement. “The town's ability to maintain our roads, build additional parks and trails, and maintain a safe community is directly tied to the success of our local businesses.”
Living Local incorporates a mobile website with listings of businesses, as well as an event calendar and a section where city news is posted. Town Communications Manager Molly Fox said Flower Mound is already known as the premier medical destination in southern Denton County, and the town is now working to promote its shopping and dining options.
Tony Felker, executive director of the Frisco Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber and city of Frisco focus their efforts on informing consumers on what local tax dollars do for the city and school district. He said ensuring people understand this is important for the future health and growth of both entities.
The Plano Chamber’s business directory can be located at members.planochamber.plonka.com/list. Flower Mound’s new mobile website is livinglocalfm.com. The Frisco Chamber can be reached at friscochamber.com.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News