Investing Locally

by Michele Boy | October 14, 2021

My daughter is reading the book Bud Not Buddy for class. As she was reading a chapter she pointed out a grammatical error and I was so proud. 

When I shared the information with my cousin, she mentioned there aren’t many proofreaders anymore.  That AI (Artificial Intelligence) is now part of the publishing industry and books are automatically published.

It helped me understand why when I read a new book I see more errors than I used to. 

The other thing I notice in our world today that I miss desperately is calling on the phone and having a human answer. 

Thankfully in a small town like ours that service still exists!

I might get a slightly better interest rate with an online bank but I don’t want it. I am willing to sacrifice some things in favor of human contact and having them keep employees.

I will pay a little more for groceries to keep a store open in our town. Now there are some things I can’t get here but if I can, I try to.

I feel like in a small town a decision to open a business or continue one isn’t just about self. It is how will it serve the community, how many people will it employ?

I want more here. I want more places locally to spend my money. I don’t want to buy online if I don’t have to. I want to walk down the street and buy clothes or gifts. 

Even better I would love to see some things manufactured here. 

I want more opportunities for locals to have work which creates more floats in our parades, more kids in 4-H, more more more.

The world outside may be getting faster and faster and we may need some of those services, places to go on vacation, and products too.

But I am so grateful to every business here in Hamilton County now. I am grateful to the people who invest here, who are improving their properties, who plant flowers outside their business, who string lights up for holidays. 

Every little thing a business does can help or hurt our town. Maybe that is too much pressure but the more I can support local the happier I am. 

Have you thought about opening a business? There is risk. What if it fails? 

What is that saying - What if I fail? Oh my darling what if you fly? Or something like that.

A native Syracusan had been investing in our community the last few years and sadly passed away last weekend. 

I was so grateful for his joy, for his excitement in possibly opening up a distribution center here. 

He was young and his life was filled with so much potential for himself his family and for our community. 

As you go about your business today, think about how your dollar matters. Think about what it does for our community. 

As we need tree trimmers, plumbers, and other trades, consider Syracuse. A small town with so much potential. 

I saw on social media we have glow yoga. One new family comes to town and brings with them something new. 

Or maybe someone local is sitting at home thinking well maybe I could open this business? 

Maybe now is the time!