Why Supporting Small Businesses Matters
It’s National Small Business Week, a time to recognize the impact small businesses have on our local economy, community life, and sense of place. Here in Ellsworth, small businesses aren’t just storefronts—they're neighbors, community builders, youth sponsors, and job creators.
As the Ellsworth Chamber of Commerce, we know that when small businesses thrive, communities grow stronger. Whether it’s a family-owned restaurant serving up hometown favorites or a new startup investing in fresh ideas, these businesses create ripple effects that benefit all of us.
Small Businesses: The Backbone of Our Local Economy
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, small businesses make up 99.9% of all U.S. businesses and employ nearly half of the country’s workforce. In Ellsworth, our small businesses are not only central to our identity—they’re key to our economic resilience.
When you spend money at a local business, significantly more of that dollar stays in the community. This leads to a powerful concept called the economic multiplier effect—where your spending supports not only the business, but also local employees, suppliers, and service providers.
What Is Economic Leakage—and Why Should You Care?
Economic leakage happens when money spent by local residents leaves the community—for example, when someone shops online from a national retailer or buys a gift card from a big box store. Those dollars never cycle through our local economy. They don’t support local jobs, schools, nonprofits, or infrastructure.
Over time, even small shifts in spending habits can erode the vitality of a community. Rural communities have seen this firsthand over the past 20-30 years. But there’s good news: we can reverse that trend. Every local purchase helps reduce leakage and keeps more money circulating right here in Ellsworth.
How You Can Support Ellsworth’s Small Businesses This Week
- Visit and thank your favorite local businesses.
A kind word, a purchase, or even a social media shout-out can go a long way in showing appreciation and building loyalty. Also on our Facebook page, a tribute post series dedicated to our local businesses! - Buy Ellsworth Bucks instead of big box or big bank gift cards.
Ellsworth Bucks keep your dollars in our community and can be used at participating Chamber member businesses. - Support the growth of future businesses.
Join us for the upcoming Homegrown: Entrepreneurship in Your Community workshop on May 14, where we'll explore how to build a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ellsworth.
Register here - Choose local first—when dining, shopping, or hiring services.
Before clicking “add to cart” online, check to see if a local business offers what you need. - Share your favorite businesses with friends and family.
Word-of-mouth is powerful. Help others discover the hidden gems in our own backyard.
Let's Keep Ellsworth Strong
Every purchase is a choice. And when you choose to support small businesses, you're choosing to invest in Ellsworth’s future.
From all of us at the Chamber, thank you for supporting the heart of our community—not just during Small Business Week, but all year long!