On Tuesday, the LaGrange-Troup County Chamber of Commerce named Advertising Made Easy, Benchmark Contracting and Coldwell Banker Spinks Brown Durand Realtors the small businesses of the year. 

While the large business and manufacturer of the year were named earlier this year, it is good to take a moment and recognize these small businesses that are the lifeblood of our community. 

Small businesses are where we go for personalized attention from the same people that we stand in line behind at the post office. Small businesses are run by our friends and neighbors, and there is something to be said for having the business owner greet you at the door.

But regardless of business size, it is important to shop local, whether you are shopping for a shirt, someone to buy a house from, someone to repair that home or someone to help you advertise your own small business. 

Shopping locally feeds the economy in Troup County and helps those same friends and neighbors to pay for their daughter’s dance lessons, their son’s team jersey or the flowers for their mom on Mother’s Day. 

It also helps businesses keep their doors open in Troup County. 

If you want more shopping, the way to keep what is here is to shop here. The equation is that simple.