Your local dollars matter!

From the Mayor

When the holidays roll around each year, I am reminded and wanted to share that reminder with the citizens of Navasota that when you shop local, some of those dollars come back to help improve the city. Yes, of the 8.25% sales tax collected, we only get 2% (State of Texas gets the rest), but that amount can build up when you buy local. For example, for $30,000 in sales, $600 comes back to the city of Navasota to the Navasota Economic Development Corporation (NEDC). In many areas of retail that we all have needs for every day, including clothing, eating places, sporting goods and general merchandise, an additional three times of that $30K is lost to our neighboring city to the north—in the industry, it is called “leakage.” Yes, there are specific items that we do not have available here (yet), but more opportunities are presenting themselves and the city of Navasota and NEDC work diligently to bring more interest to Navasota to keep those dollars here. I just ask that you give local a chance.

This weekend, all over the U.S., small businesses will be celebrating Small Business Saturday (right after Black Friday) offering specials and if nothing else, an invitation to drop in a local business, and see what they have to offer! You might be surprised. Before you take that trip north for something you are needing, take a minute to see if you can get it here.

What is done with the 2% returned to the NEDC, you ask? You may have noticed a number of businesses that have improved their facades through the Business Improvement Grant (BIG), or maybe you have heard about the new parking lot downtown that is to be constructed? Those are some examples of how the dollars are used- doing things that get more folks to spend local, and just as important, folks from outside Navasota that spend their dollars here.

The NEDC also just contracted with the Retail Coach, who will update our demographics and work directly with developers and retail business prospects to identify ones that fit our community & needs, and with that new business bring in new sales tax & property tax dollars.

SHOP LOCAL!

Bert Miller is a Rattler Alumni and the Mayor of Navasota. He also owns several local businesses and is invested in strengthening the community.