OPINION By Vincent Manfredi
As a business owner in Maricopa, I would like to take a moment to implore you to shop local. While it may be tempting to order online or head to the nearest big-box store, the truth is that when you shop local, you’re doing more than just supporting a small business—you’re supporting your entire community.
When you shop local, the benefits are vast. For one, you’re supporting the local economy. When you buy from a small business in Maricopa, that money stays in the community. It’s used to pay local employees, who in turn, spend their earnings at other local businesses. This creates a ripple effect that helps to boost the entire community.
Additionally, when you shop local, you’re helping to create jobs. Small businesses are the lifeblood of any community, and when they thrive, so do the job opportunities. By choosing to shop at a local store or eat at a local restaurant, you’re helping to support the employment of your neighbors and friends.
Shopping local is a great way to give back to the community. When you shop at a small business in Maricopa, you’re supporting real people who live and work in your community. You’re not just another faceless customer to them; you’re a part of their community, and they’re a part of yours.
I urge you to consider the benefits of shopping local in Maricopa. When you do, you’re helping to support the local economy, create jobs, protect the environment, and give back to the community. So, next time you’re looking to buy something, think local first. Your community will thank you for it.
Vincent Manfredi is an owner of InMaricopa and a Maricopa City Council member.
![An image of one of 56 elevation renderings submitted to Maricopa's planning department for the Elena Trails subdivison. The developer plans to construct 14 different floor plans, with four elevation styles per plan. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/city-041724-elena-trails-rendering-218x150.jpg "Elena Trails releases home renderings")
![A blue square highlights the area of the proposed affordable housing development and "Restaurant Row" sitting south of city hall and the Maricopa Police Department. Preliminary architectural drawings were not yet available. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/041724-affordable-housing-project-restaurant-row-218x150.jpg "Affordable apartments planned near ‘Restaurant Row’")
When there are options to shop local it’s an easy choice to make, nobody wants to drive an hour round trip (without traffic) to shop outside the city.
It’s getting increasingly difficult to “buy local” when more and more corporate entities are setting up shop and running those very local businesses into bankruptcy because they have zero chance of keeping up with that kind of competition.