Simple Ways To Travel Green – Support Local Businesses

saving the bricks and mortar our nation was built upon

3 – What 3 independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?  Stop in, say hello, pick  up something that brings a smile.  Your purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

50 – If half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned, independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.  What if 3/4 of the population did that?

68 – For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores like this
$68 returns to the local economy through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.  If you spend that in a national chain like this 
only $43 stays in the local economy.  Spend it online and nothing comes home.

1 – the number of people it takes to start the trend … you!

I was enjoying a cup o’ jo at Merenda Zug coffee shop in Strasburg, PA while visiting family and I saw this poster for the 3/50 Project.  I had recently written a post titled “How Your Travels Can Support A Good (Green) Cause” to talk about where the money you spend in a destination goes and encourage travelers to search out the local, authentic businesses that provide a unique experience and keep the money in the local economy.

The 3/50 Project breaks down the numbers.  They lay it all out for you and show you in clear language how and why you should buy local and support locally owned, independent businesses.  You can do this in your hometown and you can also support local, independent, businesses when you travel.

I know it’s often easier to take the first exit you see when you’re hungry or looking for a souvenir and you can often quickly get inundated with the national chain’s and their souvenir’s imported from China. TGA is trying to help you find the local, authentic places to stop because we think it’s a better experience for you and the local residents.

It’s obvious that it also pumps more money into the local economy.

The 3/50 Project – Saving the Bricks and Mortar Our Nation Was Built Upon.  Pick 3, Spend 50, Save Local Economies.

Look for the plaque in participating businesses next time you travel or in your hometown.  Learn more at www.the350project.net

Tags: 3 50 Project, buy local, green travel

This entry was posted on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Blog, Green Travel Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.