5 Ways to Support Your Community This Holiday Season

Local government serves as the foundation of Alabama’s economy – and investing in your local community can help lay the foundation for the state’s successful future.

Live Locally Alabama wants to focus on just that. The Quality of Life Campaign, led by the Alabama League of Municipalities (ALM) on behalf of local leaders, is designed to improve the well-being of our communities. The focus is on raising awareness of essential aspects of local government such as public safety, infrastructure improvements, economic investment, education, workforce development, support of local businesses, and the numerous cultural and recreational activities available in the sweet home of Alabama.

Participation in local government promotes collaboration between citizens and government in developing new ways of relating and working together – and community engagement is critical to encouraging more sustainable decisions and further improving the quality of life in our local communities.

Below are five simple ways you can contribute to your hometown’s prosperity year-round, especially during the holidays. Three former ALM presidents and current board members share their perspectives on how these methods specifically help their communities.

Buy and eat locally

Supporting local businesses is one of the most direct ways to boost your community’s economy. When you shop and eat at local shops, restaurants, boutiques and markets, more of your money stays in the community, helping to create jobs and fund public services. Whether you want to visit the local farmers market or purchase unique gifts from an independent retailer, you can feel comfortable shopping and dining locally.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2024 Small Business Profile, there are 449,024 small businesses in Alabama, accounting for 99.4% of all businesses in the state. Keep small businesses in mind when you shop on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and the days leading up to Christmas.

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller points out that his community offers unique shopping options and how shopping locally can positively impact the city’s future. “Our small business community offers unique shopping experiences, and our larger shopping districts like Tiger Town and Saugahachee Square offer endless opportunities,” he says. By shopping locally, residents strengthen relationships with their neighbors and friends and increase the economic vitality of the community.

Play and explore on site

Whether you’re hitting the pickleball courts, attending a local concert, or taking advantage of your community’s outdoor spaces, there are a variety of local opportunities for both youth and adults to play and explore that encourage connection and support local organizers.

The state’s local governments work together to improve infrastructure and focus on intentional growth and development that protects Alabama’s beautiful natural resources and promotes healthier lifestyles.

Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar discusses an important example of how the creation of her new waterfront district, City Harbor, has positively impacted her community. “With its prime location on Lake Guntersville, City Harbor is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts,” she says. While the city is known as Alabama’s Lake City, Dollar also says, “Guntersville offers you the amenities of a larger city, as well as the friendliness and charm of a larger city, whether you currently live there, are vacationing there, or with your family or friends Companies want to move.” a small town. We are proud to be a warm and welcoming community with an excellent quality of life, outstanding schools, a thriving arts scene, abundant recreational opportunities, beautiful neighborhoods and outstanding shopping and dining experiences.”

Learn on site

Learning locally means taking advantage of educational opportunities directly on site and investing in local education and knowledge exchange opportunities. These initiatives not only enrich your life, but also strengthen the cultural foundation of your community.

You can learn locally by getting involved in school organizations, joining a book club, or attending workshops or classes offered by local businesses, libraries, or community centers. Children can participate in local learning by visiting nearby museums or nature centers.

Through Chamber of Commerce civic leadership programs, citizens can also learn about local government, business and community challenges. Attend a council meeting, get involved in community initiatives and improvement projects, and follow your community’s social media pages to stay up to date on their latest activities and plans.

Serve locally

Volunteering and participating in local service projects is one of the most rewarding ways to give back to your community. Whether you volunteer your time at a food bank, animal shelter, or community garden, your efforts truly make a difference.

It is particularly important to serve locally on holidays. Participate in clothing, book, or non-perishable food fundraisers to help those in need, or support local fundraisers for causes that directly benefit your community.

Get involved locally

Finally, thank those who help put on the community events you love, like parades, concerts and festivals, every year. From the worker who changes out the light pole decorations each season to the sanitation worker and first responder who works during the holidays, look for ways to show your gratitude.

Robertsdale Mayor Charles Murphy reminds us of the importance of showing kindness. “Since the holidays are always special, we would like to remind everyone to slow down, try harder, be kind to others and be more patient in our daily activities,” he said. “One point to remember is the kind gesture we give each other at this special time of year – it could be the greatest gift they will receive this holiday season.”

Engage with your community and share your community pride. ALM created graphics for citizens and businesses to show their support for their hometown and the Live Locally Alabama campaign! To learn more about the campaign, visit https://almonline.org/LiveLocallyAlabama.aspx.