The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

I applaud Mr. Darryl Hackworth for his ambition and eye for opportunity — certainly that is part of our forward thrusting culture. However, I do believe there are some important facts to deliberate upon when considering inviting chain stores into our small community.

Question #1: How well do such chain businesses as Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar support small towns and urban neighborhoods?

Answer #1: Research reveals that in smaller, more economically vulnerable areas these chain stores actually add to economic distress.

Question #2: How?

Answer #2: Dollar stores actually cut sales at the local supermarket by 30 percent, decrease jobs (General stores typically average 9 staff, while local grocers typically average 14 staff,) and negatively impact other small business (i.e., duplicating what is already being sold in the community, weakening the community’s commercial district (tourists needs and sales diminished, etc.).

Question #3: Why is it a big deal if people are getting what they need and more cheaply?

Answer #3: First of all, dollar stores never offer fresh foods, only preprocessed foods which are packaged in single-serving quantities. At first glance the price looks lower, but if you’re trying to feed a family these items need to be duplicated and are more expensive per ounce—rapidly out pacing most people’s budgets. Secondly, not only are many local businesses negatively impacted, but often because of the 30-percent slash, local groceries end up going out of business. Thirdly, the dollar store does not financially support the community through taxes.

Question #4: How so? Where do the tax dollars from the dollar store go?

Answer #4: Unlike the small, independent grocery, profits (tax dollars) from the Dollar General store are going back to their corporate office, NOT to the local community, as it is explained by David Procter, Director of Rural Grocery Initiative at Kansas State University. 

So…food for thought…If we hope to keep our small town thriving, we need to seriously consider the facts about chain store impact taking up valuable land, and negating: tax support, jobs, business opportunities, tourist trade, family businesses, and healthy food from our community. For more information go to: Institute for Local Self-Reliance, www.ilsr.org.

Sincerely,

Robin Tess

Electric City