Joplin chamber President Rob O'Brian speaks at a meeting yesterday in which Gov. Jay Nixon encouraged Joplin residents to purchase their goods locally.

Photo provided by JOPLIN CHAMBER

Governor urges Joplin residents to buy local goods

SBJ Staff

Posted online August 18, 2011 | 10:18 am

With knowledge that Joplin metropolitan sales tax revenues increased 5.2 percent and city of Joplin revenues increased 4.8 percent May through June, Gov. Jay Nixon is encouraging consumers to continue the trend.

Speaking at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce yesterday, Nixon urged the greater Joplin area to keep its dollars circulating locally as it rebuilds and recovers from the EF-5 tornado that hit the area May 22.

"Every dollar spent today in Joplin will be harvested tomorrow in a rebuilt and renewed city," Nixon said in a news release. "I strongly encourage local residents to continue to buy local to help power this region's economic recovery."

Nixon was joined by Joplin chamber President Rob O'Brian and local business owners and community leaders.

"We thank the loyal residents of Joplin who have chosen to invest in their community by buying local," O'Brian said in the release. "And we encourage every resident and business to continue to do the same."[[In-content Ad]]