When we support small businesses during the holiday season — and throughout the year — our gifts are not only meaningful for our loved ones, they also have widespread benefits for our local communities and the broader region.
By shopping locally, we help build more resilient downtowns, stronger local economies, and vibrant communities across the Adirondack North Country.
Keeping Dollars Close to Home
Every dollar spent in a locally owned business does more for our region than the same dollar spent at a national chain or online retailer. When you shop local, a significantly greater portion of your money stays in the local economy, recirculating as wages, purchases from other local businesses, taxes, and community investments — an economic boost known as the local multiplier effect. (See infographic by American Independent Business Alliance).
That means when you buy a gift from a downtown shop, grab a treat at your local café, or purchase local food at a farmers’ market, your money is invested back in your community, where it supports local families, local businesses, and regional opportunities and services.
Supporting Local Jobs & Services
Small businesses are major engines of job creation in the United States. They generate a large share of new employment and provide opportunities for residents to work close to home.
In our region, where each job can have an outsized impact, those employment opportunities help keep people and families rooted locally — supporting schools, housing markets, and community services. When local businesses thrive, they’re more able to hire and retain employees, contribute to local causes, and support civic efforts and nonprofits that make our region a great place to live and work.
Promoting Sustainable Practices
Buying locally is often more environmentally sustainable than purchasing online or from big box stores. Local producers and retailers frequently source materials nearby, which can reduce transportation emissions and excess packaging. In rural areas like ours, supporting local farms and regionally made products helps reduce waste and promote more thoughtful use of our natural resources.
Building Community
Beyond economic and environmental benefits, shopping locally also builds connections between community members. These face-to-face interactions are strong threads that make up the unique social fabric of our communities. Through conversation, connection and mutual support, our region’s small businesses, local nonprofits, and community groups look out for each other and take care of each other.
This holiday season, consider the bigger impact of your spending choices. When you choose local, you’re not just purchasing a gift — you’re investing in your neighbors, your community, and a strong, resilient future for the Adirondack North Country.
ANCA’s Last-minute Support Local Holiday Gift Guide
Hanukkah is underway, and Christmas is right around the corner. Friends and families will gather in towns and villages across the region for other winter celebrations in the coming days and weeks. It’s not too late to give meaningful gifts this holiday season while supporting local businesses and organizations. Here are a few ideas:
Local Shops: Browse independent shops and markets for a wide variety of gift options. Visit your local bookstore, grocer, gift shop, outdoor gear outfitter, museum, jeweler, or clothing store. The possibilities are endless. Consider a handmade gift — like those made by the talented artisans who attend ANCA’s annual Adirondack Buyer Days show, which celebrates its 40th anniversary on March 23-24, 2026 in Saratoga Springs, New York.
Local Food & Beverage: Nothing says love like a holiday meal made with local ingredients. Stop by your local grocer, farmstand, farmers’ market, bakery, or specialty food shop for local produce, meats, cheeses, chocolates, baked goods, wines, beers, coffee, jams, and more! In Saranac Lake, the High Peaks Farmers’ Market (pictured) will host its last indoor market of the season on Saturday, December 20 at the Hotel Saranac. The market, which ANCA oversees, will continue to offer “Park-it Market” pickup on Saturdays throughout the winter.
Local Dining: We all could use a break from cooking, especially during the holidays. Treat yourself or your loved ones with a meal out. Make a reservation or purchase a gift certificate. Our region is home to so many unique restaurants, bars and coffee shops — each with their own distinct flavor, atmosphere and character. The holidays are a great time to visit your local favorites or try someplace new.
Local Entertainment, Education & Experiences: Gift certificates, memberships and subscriptions make great gifts that can be enjoyed when and how the recipient wishes to use them. Think outside the box — how can you help a friend or family member experience aspects of our region that make it so special? Day tickets or season passes to museums, theaters, arts centers, ski areas, and amusement parks. Tickets for musicals concerts, theatrical performances, and special art exhibits. A fishing license. Lessons at a local studio that offers art, music, yoga or fitness classes.
Local Media: Our region is fortunate to still have a number of small, locally-owned publications and stations that provide local news and entertainment. These media outlets rely on the support of their readers, listeners and viewers to continue to provide informative and engaging content about the news, culture, and environment of our region. Consider a gift subscription to your local newspaper or magazine or a gift donation to your favorite radio or television station.
Local Services: Local service providers play essential roles in our communities. Consider a gift for specialty services or for those that can help lighten the load during the holiday season or in the new year. Think practical, if not fun and flashy. Offer to pay for an oil change, chimney sweep, or garbage pickup. Treat your spouse to a haircut, massage, house cleaning, or meal service — something special that makes them feel refreshed and ready for the year ahead.
Local Organizations: Finally, consider making a charitable donation in your name or the name of a loved one to an organization or group that is making a difference in your community. We can often feel overwhelmed and powerless to make meaningful change in the world around us. By supporting local organizations who are doing good work day in and day out to improve our little corner of the world, you too can have a positive impact in your community.
As our friend and partner Sunita Halasz, Clean Water Community Advocate for Adirondack Council, wrote in an appeal to support local nonprofit organizations: “We might possibly have the most nonprofits per capita in the nation, but they are strengthening nationwide Democracy from the Adirondacks out — lifting up local voices, connecting people with resources, with each other, and with our unique ecosystems.”
Sunita named ANCA among the regional nonprofits doing this work. We are honored by the recognition and humbled to be working alongside so many forward-looking organizations and local leaders who are dedicated to building strong, vibrant and welcoming communities for all who live, work and visit our special region.
If you believe in our mission and wish to support our work in 2026, make a year-end gift today: bit.ly/ANCAgive.
Happy holidays from all of us at ANCA, and thank f0r supporting local!
