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 | Bedford County 137 East Pitt Street Bedford PA 15522 814-623-2233 BedfordCountyChamber.org |
 | Huntingdon County 500 Allegheny Street Huntingdon PA 16652 814-643-1110 HuntingdonChamber.com |
 | Cambria County 245 Market Street Johnstown Pa 15901 814 - 536-5107 JohnstownChamber.com |
 | Somerset County 601 North Center Avenue Somerset Pa 15501 814-445-6431 SomersetCountyChamber.com |
 | Blair County 3900 Industrial Park Drive Suite 12 Altoona Pa. 16602 814-943-8151 BlairChamber.com |
| Why |
| Numerous studies have shown that communities benefit from a
multiplier effect when dollars are spent locally. Michael
Shuman, vice president for enterprise development for the
Training & Development corporation and an attorney, economist,
and writer for the Washington Post and New York Times, "…local
businesses spend more locally - on local management, on local
advertising, on local services, and on local profits. Because
most economic multipliers are in the range of two to four times
the initial expenditure, these differences in local business
spending will always result in substantially greater benefits to
the local economy."
(http://www.livingeconomies.org/localfirst/faq/) What this multiplier effect means to a local economy is the creation of more jobs, leading to a broader tax base, which in turn means better funding for schools, police and fire departments and infrastructure. It also means more disposable income for local companies, which often provide the bulk of a community’s philanthropic donations. Our region has much to gain from a shift in buying habits. The United States Census Bureau estimates that over $17 billion of business is transacted in the Alleghenies annually. If we could keep more of that business in our region, we would all benefit through increased sales for local organizations; more jobs for local residents; stimulation of the regional economy; increasing our tax bases, and, ultimately, improving our quality of life. |