Value of Local Businesses

Seven Wahkiakum community members, traveled to White Salmon April 15th to learn more on the value of supporting and building local businesses from author Michael Schuman. Schuman is an economist, lawyer and entrepreneur, as well as author of “The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses are Beating the Global Competition.” The day included a presentation from Schuman, networking with other rural Southwest Washington communities, and our own community members working together to identify how concepts learned that day would apply in Wahkiakum County. We identified multiple county assets, such as timber, talent and natural beauty; and discussed how we could add value to them locally and create jobs and wealth at home. Future plans from the day include sharing what we learned via conversations with neighbors and perhaps offering a “Buy Local” presentation or workshop locally. For more information on Schuman and “The Small-Mart Revolution, ”go to http://www.small-mart.org/.