“I’m delighted to display our window sticker because I’m proud to be a local business owner,” explained Georganne Bryant, owner of the Frances boutique on Camelback Road just west of Central Avenue. “I have noticed since the holidays that people are being more thoughtful about shopping local. With gas prices and negative economic talk, I hope they will support all of our local businesses with their economic stimulus checks.”

The simple act of going local will generate significant dividends to an Arizona economy battered by the housing-market decline. The ripple effect of spending stimulus checks at a locally owned store can be seen through increased wages and benefits, profits to local owners, local procurement and charitable giving from Arizona-based companies.

Three times the revenue returns to the state economy when a consumer makes a conscious decision to patronize a locally owned business, rather than a national chain. For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 returns to the community versus only $13 returned from a national chain, according to the groundbreaking 2002 Liveable City study by Austin-based Civic Economics. This data set has been re-tested and proven again in San Francisco (2007) and the Chicago area (2004).

Consumers can visit the search engine and business directory at www.localfirstaz.com to find a wealth of business categories and ideas to find local solutions to their needs. Most importantly, they can look for the round window-sticker to make sure they are shopping at the independent businesses that contribute the most to the Arizona economy.

Founded in 2003, Local First Arizona highlights the economic, environmental and cultural benefits of shopping locally.