The practice of “buying local” will be crucial for area communities to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.

After a year of facing limits and shutdowns, small businesses and retailers have had to vie with the convenience of shopping online while people were encouraged to stay home.

They need customers to come back and make an effort to purchase merchandise either made or sold closer to home.

With that in mind, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed July 28 though Aug. 4 to be Buy Michigan Week.

“Michigan businesses have been resilient through the pandemic and I am committed to getting them the support they need as we continue Michigan’s economic jumpstart,” Whitmer said. “Buying local has never been more important as we continue to build up our economy stronger than ever. With each purchase made at a Michigan retailer, you can help keep more money in your community and improve your quality of life as we put Michigan back to work.”

“Strengthening our local economies and getting Michiganders back to work is a priority for our administration,” said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist. “I encourage all Michiganders to support our wonderful industries and local businesses this week and always. From shopping at a local boutique, to dining at a family-owned restaurant, there are countless ways to support Michigan businesses. Getting our economy back on track starts right here in our neighborhoods.”

“Small businesses like local retailers are the backbone of Michigan’s vibrant economy,” said William J. Hallan, president and CEO of Michigan Retailers Association. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, we encourage all Michiganders to keep their money in the Mitten by shopping local, and we thank the administration for reminding residents of the importance of supporting the local retailers and businesses who make Michigan’s downtowns great places to shop and visit.”

Earlier this month, Whitmer kicked off the MI Small Business Summer tour to recognize Michigan’s small businesses that have shown resiliency throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor sent letters to more than 200 businesses in Michigan to recognize them for their contributions to the public during the pandemic. The list included Crystal Steel House in Iron County, which offers a full-service machine shop, custom metal fabrication and welding services in Crystal Falls. Its top product is the Groundz Keeper, a snow plow attachment that, according to its website, “alleviates the mess of early snow removal on thawed ground that would otherwise be torn up by conventional plow designs.”

In addition to the suite of proposals dedicated to small business and restaurants laid out in Whitmer’s Economic Jumpstart Plan, the state during the pandemic has started 23 economic relief programs for businesses, supported more than 25,000 companies and retained more than 200,000 jobs. With additional state revenues expected and billions of dollars in incoming federal funding, Michigan is in a strong position to make investments that can transform the landscape for small businesses.

According to the Buy Michigan Now website at https://buymichigannow.com/, if every Michigan household shifted just $10 of its weekly expenses to Michigan-made products, it would collectively pump $38 million a week and $1.9 billion a year back into the state’s economy.

So let’s get local businesses back on track — “Shop Local First.”