The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce’s “Shop Local” campaign was kicked off on July 9, and the impressive turnout for the event was encouraging.

The campaign highlights an important consideration for Chilton County residents. Most of us can agree that patronizing local businesses, thus keeping tax dollars at home, is commendable. But far too often we fall into the habit of traveling to Alabaster or Prattville when there is shopping to be done.

Not every item on our list can be found in Chilton County, so it’s inevitable that we find ourselves shopping elsewhere. But the campaign’s purpose is to remind residents that many of those items on our lists can indeed be bought locally.

So, instead of packing up and hitting the interstate for all of our needs, remember to first buy what you can in Chilton County. It seems like a small thing, but if we all take this approach, it will add up to a very big thing for local merchants–and the Chilton County economy.

The campaign is scheduled to last for the next six months, covering two peak shopping periods: back to school and Christmas.

“This effort is to remind them of the importance of shopping locally and encourage them to do just that; to spend their dollars here when they can,” Chamber Executive Director Mike Robertson has told The Clanton Advertiser. “After all, it’s those tax dollars that pay for all the nice things we have that make it such a great place to live and to work.”

The advisory team behind the initiative includes Peggy Hall with Realty South; Anne Taddicken, volunteer services manager at Gentiva Home Health; MorLyn’s owner Tommy Glasscock; Chilton County Commissioner Shannon Welch; Chamber Executive Assistant Brittani Ellison and Robertson.

They started planning the initiative in March and eventually distributed “Shop Local” marketing materials such as signs, banners, window clings, stickers and fliers, which will also be available throughout the initiative.

Robertson said billboards in Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville and Thorsby are either already or will be displayed soon.

The billboards and other tangible items are reminders of a simple ideal: If you can buy it in Chilton County, why buy it elsewhere? If we all commit to shopping locally, we can make a difference.

Stephen Dawkins is managing editor of The Clanton Advertiser. He can be reached at stephen.dawkins@clantonadvertiser.com.