Association works for benefit of area businesses

Preserving local and neighborhood businesses is the vision behind the Hometown Merchants Association.

The primary goal of the nonprofit association, according to one of its founders, John F. Morrison, is to promote a level playing field for all business enterprises in southwest Missouri.

"We work with the state, the legislature and city councils to provide them with information and references on tax incentives, abatements and employment growth," Morrison said. "The Hometown Merchants Association is made up of retail business leaders interested in promoting fair and equitable business practices.

"We are not anti anything. We simply want to place accountability on such issues as abatements and agreements in order to provide decision makers with all the information available on variables to current growth. We want our business leaders to be proactive and not complacent. We want our business leaders to act for the good of the whole "

The Hometown Merchants Associa-tion has about 200 members, including Ozark Tire and Auto, Price Cutter, Express Lane, Family Pharmacy and Mitchem's Jewelers. Businesses pay annual dues of $250.

"Our primary focus is to raise awareness (and) to bring factual information to the forefront of the decision-making processes regarding economic development," Morrison said.

Donna Kennedy, marketing director for Hometown Merchants Association, said consumers need to realize how shopping with local businesses affects them.

"Do you know why your fire protection is provided by volunteers?" Kennedy often asks local communities. "Because you don't spend money locally there is no tax base for operations. Dollars spent with local businesses recycle three to five times within the community."

Greg Williams, vice-president of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said: "Retail sales amounting to nearly $5.5 billion in a three-county area, consisting of Christian, Greene and Webster, generate the tax revenue for our local government operations. With $3.5 billion in retail sales, Springfield ranks second in the state of Missouri for having a pull factor' of two for every retail dollar spent in Springfield by a city resident, $2 are spent by a non-resident. The chamber's marketing message continues to be to buy locally. We maintain that philosophy and promote that concept with our focus on facilitating business success and prosperity."

The Hometown Merchants Associa-tion, located at 315 N. Ken Ave., provides information to help government agencies make decisions.

"By providing accurate studies and monitoring sales tax revenues, we can provide information to state and local governments that enable them to make better decisions regarding long-range plans for the local economy," Morrison said.

Morrison, who serves as executive director of the Ozark Empire Grocers Association and state director of the Missouri Grocers Association, said that the bylaws of both those organizations prohibited nongrocer membership. Thus the Hometown Merchants Association was founded to build a multi-industry group committed to the preservation of free enterprise.

"The challenge for us is that we are being pulled in several ways. Other groups in other states want our help in gathering factual information on issues affecting the consumer value of trading with local businesses," Morrison said.

"For now, our central efforts are concerned with getting back to the value of service and encouraging shopping where they know your name."