My Take: Love Your Local

By Cristina Paredes, Director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality

Tallahassee-Leon County has a special place in my heart. From the award-winning parks and outdoor adventures to the innovation that thrives from our world-class universities and research institutions, there are a lot of incredible and unique qualities that keep our community beating strong. But what I love most about this time of year is exploring the unique local businesses that help fuel our economic vitality. At the Office of Economic Vitality (OEV), one of our priorities is supporting and celebrating local businesses, which is why we’ve created the Love Your Local initiative. Love Your Local shines a light on local companies in Tallahassee-Leon County and encourages residents and visitors alike to show love to our local businesses by supporting them.

Our local businesses offer unique products and services that make them special, and beyond the products they provide, they continue to make great contributions to our community and local economy. They are built, owned, and operated by your neighbors. So before you travel to a big-box store or shop with an online retailer outside of our community, join the movement to Love Your Local. Right now, many of us are making plans for our holiday shopping, so let’s all make a conscious effort to visit and support local companies in Tallahassee-Leon County. That’s the kind of thing that speaks volumes to businesses and our community.