Editorial: Shopping local important year round

Whether it is in Whitehall, or some of our neighbors like Boulder or Twin Bridges, small businesses play an important role in the local economy.

It only takes a few minutes of driving around in Whitehall to see it is a town full of a variety of small businesses, all of which offer something of value to local residents.

The businesses are not only located in downtown, there are also many smaller businesses throughout Jefferson County.

Every year around Christmas time there is a push nationwide to remind people to shop local during the holiday season. People are encouraged to support their local business in what is a very busy time of the year for many owners.

It is also very important to remember the numerous local businesses throughout the rest of the year.

It shouldn’t be just about the holiday season. Each and every day is important for a small business owner. They are an integral part of both the community and economy.

It’s often times easy to plan a trip to Butte, Bozeman, or Helena to stock up on some bigger items or purchase something like a television or fridge, and there is nothing wrong with that. There are certainly some things that can’t be purchased in town.

There are also numerous things that can be purchased here and often times local businesses offer something unique that you might not find elsewhere.

Just in the downtown area there are a plethora of options to not only make a great find, but to also help the economy and a small business owner.

Each and every week the pages of the Whitehall Ledger are full of advertisements from some of the great local businesses in our area.

I really encourage people who are not familiar with a business to check them out and see what they have to offer.

There will always be ebbs and flows with the state and national economy, but if people can shop local the best they can, that can be one area that never dips on too far of a downward trend.

JHS