LETTER: Whitefish Proud & shopping local

The city of Whitefish is happy to announce “Whitefish Proud” — a campaign to inspire residents to do more of their business locally.

Whitefish Proud is broader than just “shopping” — it’s about a comprehensive approach to preserving and strengthening our entire community by “Protecting our Future Together.”

Our locally owned businesses provide the soul, distinctive feel, and sense of place that makes us all proud to live in Whitefish. The unique, independent businesses of Whitefish play a vital role in creating jobs, strengthening community cohesion, and enhancing our distinct character.

As more towns attract the same array of cookie cutter businesses, those with unique offerings and atmosphere stand to stay strong and attract visitors to a thriving business environment.

But we can’t be complacent.

Local spending in Whitefish also means supporting conservation, road repairs, local parks and trails, and keeping property taxes down through our resort tax.

Beyond the pride of our own local residents for our small town, Whitefish Proud will also resonate with tourists who contribute to the well being of Whitefish through their purchases.

We ask businesses and locals to join us in the campaign to encourage local spending first. With the holiday shopping season upon us, let’s all align our community values to our spending plans, and see how much shopping you can enjoy locally.

Research from the Institute for Local Self Reliance reveals that businesses in communities with a “buy independent/buy local” campaign reported a strong 9.3 percent sales increase last year, nearly doubling the gain for those in areas without such a campaign. We hope you will join us in this effort to keep Whitefish a strong and vibrant community. —John Muhlfeld, Whitefish mayor