Vitality is a term often applied to an individual – measured by an accumulation of favorable habits, including nutrition, movement, rest, engagement, and play. However, the same guidance can be applied to the vitality of a community. While it may not seem obvious, the conscious exercise of opting for local, independent merchants for goods and services has staggering effects for the overall well-being of surrounding communities, creating neighborhoods that are strong and active for their residents.
Small business, defined.
Make no mistake – small business is no small affair in the Hoosier state. The US Small Business Administration (SBA) classifies a small business in measure of total number of employees or average annual earnings, depending on the specific industry. To that effect, there are over half a million small businesses throughout Indiana. These small, local businesses account for 99.4 percent of all merchants in Indiana and employ 1.2 million Hoosiers.
How do small business attribute to the vitality of a community?
Much like the many systems of the body work in collaboration, the various benefits of opting for small, local merchants throughout Indiana function in harmony to build robust, thriving communities. Entrepreneurs are individuals who have made the conscious choice to place passion ahead of profit – subscribing to a purpose-driven life. In doing so, they are committed to their surrounding neighborhoods. Various studies have underscored this commitment:
- On average,