Politics & Government

Mangano and County Chamber Launch Shop Locally Campaign

Move encourages holiday shopping in local downtowns.

Hampered by a sluggish economic recovery, shoppers are being encouraged to avoid big box retailers, shopping malls and Internet deals this holiday season and instead shop at local merchants in their downtown areas.

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano, R-Bethpage, was joined Tuesday morning at the in Mineola by members of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce (NCCC), including officers and directors Angela Powers, Silvia Chertow, Julie Marchesella, Althea Robinson and Nassau County Legislators Francis Becker, R-Lynbrook, Denise Ford, R-Long Beach, David Denenberg, D-Merrick, Judi Bosworth, D-Great Neck, Judy Jacobs, D-Woodbury and Comptroller George Maragos to promote the chamber's 2010 slogan, "It Starts Here, Shop Locally."

Local businesses represent about 65 percent of the employment opportunities in Nassau County. "That's why it's so vitally important to remember our store owners and our local shops, they're so important to our downtowns, they're important to our home values, they're important to our charitable causes, they're often the businesses that sponsor the little league and the PAL teams," Mangano said. "They're hardworking people (and) most times you'll find they are members of the community, they're residents of the community and certainly the backbone of the community."

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The NCCC represents 42 local chambers of commerce as well as 6,000 small business members.

"The holiday season is really a critical time for these small businesses," President E. Christopher Murray said. "These businesses are your neighbors, they employ your neighbors, support your local organizations, your rotary, your little league teams, they are really kind of what makes Long Island a special place to live." Murray also touted the "personalized service" shoppers receive from "people you know, who you trust." The Council will be running an advertising campaign including radio and tv and print ads beginning on Friday to support the shop locally campaign.

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"Sales tax dollars that are spent locally also helps out county government, helps fund important services," Mangano said. "The revenue that stays in our community is vital to the fiscal health of our downtown, for our residents and certainly for our county." However, many customers cannot resist the lure of big box stores or the lower prices which can be found over the Internet. "When you shop locally that dollar that's spent locally is spent again and again and again locally," Mangano said. "When you send your dollar outside the county, or certainly outside the State, that dollar does not come back and that's the importance of shopping locally, the domino effect of having that dollar count more than once in your County."

Earlier this month Hicksville-based Goldman Brothers, the family-owned sporting goods store which had been in operation for the past 70 years closed its doors due to the recession. Mangano called the store's closing "very sad," saying that "you can see how costly it is when we have closed businesses in downtown communities. There's no replacement for patronage."

Certain grants and loans are available for businesses through the County's Economic Development Department, with many geared towards women or minority businesses owners. At one time Nassau County designated a period of two weeks a year where no sales tax would be charged in an effort to spur on spending. Mangano said that he "would like to work with the chamber" on any proposal which they may put forth.

Other efforts are being made to assist local businesses with bidding on county items as many bids are lost to out-of state companies.

"There are short-term perhaps savings but in the long run businesses lose out (as) dollars leave our communities," Mangano said, adding that he will be introducing legislation that moves the bidding threshold from $10,000 up to 20,000 for commodities and up to $30,000 for public works projects. "We have many many businesses that approach us and want to do business with the county and find it very difficult," Mangano said.

"There is always a multitude of items that can be purchased in a downtown store," NCCC First Vice President Julie Marchesella said, also encouraging shoppers to purchase a gift card if they are unsure of what to get a person on their list.

"Millions of dollars have been spent in all of the downtown areas across Nassau County by the state the County and the Towns to revitalize your downtown areas. Continue to shop locally for the benefit of all of the residents of Nassau County."

Marchesella, who is the owner of , a plus-size formal wear boutique in Merrick, said that "there's convenience in shopping downtown. It's a safe place to shop, parking is convenient, you're not walking through a dark parking lot. We're encouraging people to shop downtown to keep our stores in business. Mom and pops are having a very difficult time with the economy and it keeps everyone shopping locally; it brings you back into the community."


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