A Shot in the Arm for Small Businesses

There's a big push to get people to shop locally this holiday season.

Althea Robinson, long time executive director of the Garden City Chamber of Commerce, joined with Nassau County executive Ed Mangano, members of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce (NCCC) and local business owners to send out a message: keep dollars local by shopping in neighborhood stores.

"Our mom and pop stores are the lifeblood of Nassau's economy and the foundation of our communities," said Mangano. "They need our support."

For the second year in a row, NCCC has encouraged people to shop locally through their marketing campaign, "It Starts Here...Buy Locally."

"Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, it's time to return to our local neighborhood stores," said Mangano. "Small businesses create 65 percent of the net new jobs in America, and half of the people who work in this country own or work for a small businesses."

NCCC represents 42 local chambers and has 6,000 members.

Robinson, a charter member of the NCCC, said posters displaying the "It Starts Here...Buy Locally" theme have been placed in the village's 14 kiosks in support of both NCCC's extensive print and radio advertising campaign along with the Garden City Merchants, Professionals & Retailers group's efforts to encourage holiday shopping here in the village.

E. Christopher Murray, NCCC president, adds, "Small businesses employ our neighbors and friends, and they help sponsor little league teams, soccer teams or when a neighbor is in need. The money you spend with local businesses stays right in your community."