Small businesses are the heart and soul of the economy. We may not have the resources of Fortune 500 companies, but we share the love for our communities and the collective power to make a difference. This winter’s freeze wrought havoc on an already precarious situation for so many. Trusted relationships with local businesses like insurance agents, plumbers, contractors and pool builders are the calm still getting many of us through the storm.
In times like these, I’m prouder than ever to be a small business serving this community. This month, we’ve utilized our collective resources for compiling your opinions on the best area businesses across five categories: food and drink, health and wellness, entertainment, services and retail.
The pages that follow are the results of thousands of your nominations and votes.
I ask you to let them serve as one big community referral when you need them most. They can also serve as a reminder to patronize the very businesses who support our schools, youth sports teams and local charities each and every day. Studies have shown that as much as $68 out of every $100 spent locally gets recirculated within the community. When we support local businesses, we support one another.