Time to reacquaint ourselves with the real people behind our small independent businesses. They just might be your neighbors.

A "shop local" movement needs more than just a sense of civic responsibility to succeed.  It needs great neighborhoods, destination businesses and a coordinated marketing strategy.

The Chamber is working on five initiatives and partnerships to help small businesses thrive in our community.  Most should be unveiled in the coming weeks.

Our Chamber, inexperienced in advocacy and activism, made a case for dialogue with small businesses but wound up on the opposite side of a powerful argument with significant community support.  Hopefully people will see past the politics and keep supporting our businesses.