JACKSON — Township Councilman Mike Kafton, who owns a small business, is asking people to support their community merchants during these difficult economic times.
Kafton recently asked business owners to go to the Internet website of the 3/50 Project and to download and circulate information about the initiative. He said the 3/50 Project was created to help “save the brick and mortars our nation is built on.”
“As a small local business owner myself, I am a big proponent of the 3/50 Project, which asks residents to think about three local businesses they would miss if they were no longer in business, and to spend $50, in total, each month at those businesses if at all possible,” Kafton said. “Let’s make an investment in our community and let it start with your favorite neighborhood store.”
The purpose of the 3/50 project is to help small businesses thrive and to keep local economies healthy, he said.
According to the 3/50 Project website, if one-half of America’s population spent $50 each month at local businesses, it would generate more than $42 billion a year in revenue.
Kafton said that for every $100 spent in a local business, $68 goes back to the community in the form of taxes, payroll and other expenditures. By comparison, if an individual spends $100 at a national chain business, $43 goes back into the community.
“Many of us take for granted that our favorite local store will always be there when we need something, and you may not realize the positive impact you can have on making that happen,” the councilman said.
Kafton said American Express is extending its Small Business Saturday program through the end of December.
“They are asking holiday shoppers to shop at their small local businesses and when they do, and if they spend at least $25, they will receive a $25 credit on their American Express statement,” he said.
American Express card holders must register their cards for the Small Business Saturday promotion by going to the website www.smallbusinesssaturday.com.
For more information about the 3/50 Project, visit www.the350project.net.