EAST GREENWICH, RI – U.S. Senator Jack Reed is urging Rhode Islanders to add “shop local” to their holiday shopping lists.  During a tour of Main Street businesses, shops, and boutiques in East Greenwich today, Reed encouraged fellow Rhode Islanders to support independent retailers across the state and discussed legislative efforts to help local businesses thrive. 

“Small business owners and their employees are the heart and soul of our local economy, and it’s critical that we support them.  Shopping at these neighborhood stores can have a ripple effect throughout the entire economy, so I urge Rhode Islanders to shop local this holiday season and throughout the year.  Every dollar we keep in the state pays dividends to the greater community,” said Reed.  “East Greenwich has a lot of great, unique, family-owned businesses.  The town and the business community do a great job of promoting the retail area and we need to replicate that type of teamwork and partnership throughout the state.”

According to buylocalri.org: “Local businesses often keep your money local, investing in local supplies, wages, services, taxes, and community donations.  This strengthens Rhode Island’s economic and tax base.  A study in Austin, Texas found that $100 spent at a local bookstore produced $45 worth of local economic activity, and $100 at a chain bookstore brought back only $13.”

And the Providence Journal reported that “if Rhode Islanders shifted 10 percent of what they buy from large, out-of-state chain stores to locally owned businesses, it could pump $373 million into the state’s economy.”

“My top priority is growing jobs and opportunities in Rhode Island.  Congress needs to do more to help small businesses grow and that means investing in our workforce, infrastructure, and education system.  It also means creating incentives for businesses to hire, cutting red tape, and providing increased access to capital,” said Reed. 

Reed noted that last year, the United States Senate passed the Marketplace Fairness Act, which would level the playing field for Main Street retailers like those in East Greenwich by requiring all retailers, regardless of where they are located, to play by the same rules.  Under current law, online sales tax disparities cause Rhode Island to lose approximately $70 million per year.  The bipartisan Marketplace Fairness Act gives states the ability to enforce their own sales tax laws and would help states and cities collect billions in unpaid taxes already owed, reducing the need to raise new taxes on small businesses and citizens.  Several governors across the country, including Governor Lincoln Chafee, have pledged to use the new revenue to provide broad tax relief to businesses and consumers.

The tour kicked off at the Greenwich Odeum Theatre, where Senator Reed was joined by community and business leaders, including Jennifer Cervenka, President of the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce; Steve Lombardi, Executive Director of the Chamber; East Greenwich Town Manager Tom Coyle; East Greenwich Town Council President Michael Isaacs; and local business owners.

“The East Greenwich Chamber is thrilled to have Senator Reed back in East Greenwich and to have him visit some of our wonderful small businesses,” said Steve Lombardi, Executive Director of the Chamber.  “Shopping and buying local is so important to our community as there are many economic and social reasons to do so.  Last weekend we celebrated Small Business Saturday and had our first Holiday Stroll of the season.  We are delighted that Senator Reed is such a strong proponent of small business and shopping local.  We are confident that he will see a terrific variety of small businesses thriving in East Greenwich.  We welcome the Senator back to East Greenwich.”

Together the group visited more than a dozen shops on Main Street including: International Motor Group; Bags by Iris; Hair Plus/Colonial Shoe; Lina Piccolina; Main Street Coffee; Jigger’s; Rasa; Norman’s; Zuzu’s; Time for Design; David-Max; Twigs Florist; Scribe; Shimmer’s; and Hill and Harbor Veterinary.

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