Beyond Saturday: Why We Support Small Business EVERYday in The County
Small Business Saturday is a great celebration; but in Aroostook County, one Saturday isn’t enough. Our small businesses fuel our lives 365 days a year, from Houlton and Caribou to Fort Kent and Madawaska. This year, we’re encouraging our community to take the next step:
Support Small Business EVERYDay.
Here in the Crown of Maine, “shop local” isn’t a slogan on a tote bag. It’s how we keep our towns strong. When you choose to spend your dollar at a locally owned store instead of a national chain, you’re not just buying a product. You’re investing directly in the future of The County.
Here’s why that choice matters, from the Valley down to Southern Aroostook.
Your Dollars Stay Local
We often hear that small businesses are the backbone of the economy. But the real impact is in the numbers.
Studies show that locally owned businesses recirculate up to 50% more money back into the community compared to national chains. When you buy your morning coffee, a bag of ploye mix, or a helmet for sledding season from an Aroostook-owned shop, more of that money stays right here.
It circulates from one neighbor to another. A business owner might hire a local accountant in Caribou, print signs in Presque Isle, or bank with an institution that sponsors our kids’ events. Your purchase builds a foundation under our feet instead of sending profits out of state.
You Support Real Families, Not CEOs
In Aroostook County, business owners aren’t faceless executives. They’re the people we wave to in the grocery store aisle. When you support them, you’re supporting local jobs and real livelihoods.
Your purchase helps pay a mortgage on a farmhouse in Mars Hill. It covers dance lessons in Houlton and hockey gear in Van Buren. It helps a family upgrade their heating system before winter or renovate the family camp on Madawaska Lake.
When we shop local, we help families stay in The County, keep our schools full, and prove to the next generation that they don’t have to leave to succeed. They can build their future right here at home.
Small Businesses Keep Our Communities Alive
Think back to the last school game, Project Graduation event, the Northern Maine Fair, even the Potato Blossom Festival. Look at the names on the jerseys, banners, and raffle tables. Who are the sponsors?
It’s the local hardware store, the family restaurant, the corner garage, and the independent insurance agency. These are the businesses that buy ads in the yearbook, donate gift cards to the church fundraiser, and show up at every community event. They are the leaders in your local Rotary Club and volunteer to keep your downtown beautiful.
This is why Support Small Business EVERYday matters. These are the businesses showing up for us every single day.
The Challenge
As we head into winter, our time of snowmobiling, skiing, iced (or hot) coffees, and long nights by the fire, let’s make a simple pact:
Don’t limit your gratitude to one Saturday in November.
Next time you need a gift, outdoor gear, a service, or just a Tuesday night dinner, pause. Think of a County shop or a farm stand down the road. Imagine the impact you can make.
Every meal, every tune-up, every bag of coffee, every gift is a vote for Aroostook County. A vote for vibrant downtowns. A vote for a community that takes care of its own.
Let’s build a year-round culture of support that keeps our towns strong and our future bright.
See you on Main Street!