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Dexter Area Chamber Of Commerce
Village Of Dexter
Our mission is to support and cultivate locally-owned, independent businesses that are committed to making our community a healthier and more vibrant place to live.
Think Dexter First provides provide resource sharing and community building opportunities for locally-owned independent businesses as well as raising community awareness and developing strategies for supporting these businesses.

We work in the following program areas:
  • Support of Locally-Owned Independent Business: We support the growth and development of local living economy businesses by creating opportunities for business leaders to network and share best practices of sustainable local business.
  • Community Education: We encourage local and sustainable purchasing by Dexter residents and businesses and educate the community about local living economies through our directory, website, newsletter, and events, and through public speaking engagements.
MEMBERS are independent, locally-owned businesses, farms and organizations as well as individuals that are committed to this region, its unique identity and quality of life.

MEMBERS commit to and are able to purchase goods and services from as many local sources as possible.

MEMBERS can spend a lot of time with us volunteering time and resources to support and develop the organization, or a little---attending seminars and events or simply providing membership support.

MEMBERS support most or all of the following goals:
  • To protect and nurture the unique character of our community, ensuring that our place doesn't become everyplace.
  • Encourage community and a vibrant local economy with meaningful jobs, a diversity of businesses and business owners, and involved citizens
  • Promote public awareness about the tangible benefits gained by supporting local products, services and businesses
  • Limit the degradation of our environment, cultural and natural, through principled business, employer and consumer practices
  • Support, encourage and share resources with other local businesses, organizations or individuals who share our concerns
  • Collaborate to help reduce costs and facilitate principled decision-making with regards to our environment and community
  • Model sustainable/best practices for the community

     This campaign is a joint effort by the Dexter Area Chamber of Commerce,  ShopDexter.com and a group of business owners and parents led by Mary Pierce and Cindy Glahn.  This is an effort to inform and promote the idea of strengthening the local economy.  According to chamber officials, the idea is to simultaneously bolster quality of education, home values and employment within the Dexter area.        Pierce and Glahn have been meeting with Dexter school district parents and merchants over the past year to explore the problem of money leaving the community through the shopping habits of consumers that are unknowingly "hurting Dexter's economy," according to Pierce.   "As a resident and business owner (The Home Lending Center) in Dexter with children in Dexter Schools, we all need to be aware of the value of doing business locally," she said.  "Our dollar has more value staying in Dexter than anywhere else.  No one seems to get it until local businesses fail and we scratch our heads wondering why this has an impact on our school system and home values."  The campaign will inform residents and give them the tools they need to keep their spending money here, Pierce said.  "The convergence of these three groups means that Dexter residents are getting serious about building up and sustaining our local economy,"   The Dexter Area Chamber, ShopDexter.com and Think Dexter First group are each of critical importance to Dexter's financial health. They can have a huge, positive impact by working together."

 

Think Dexter First .... Working Together to Make Dexter Stronger!

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