We see businesses come and go quite often in our community. One day a restaurant is here, the next it is gone. We find a locally owned store we enjoy shopping at only to have it go out of business the next month.

Though we’re disappointed, these situations don’t have a huge impact on our lives, but they do have a huge impact on our local economy.

At last week’s Adairville City Council meeting, Donna Blake told the council about a grassroots movement designed to save your local economy three stores at a time.

“It’s called ‘The 3/50 Project: Saving the Brick and Mortars Our Nation is Built On,” Blake explained.

The project encourages people to think about which three independently owned businesses they would miss the most if they were gone and then stop in those businesses and purchase something. The project goes on to challenge people to commit to spending $50 a month at each of those three businesses.

“For every $100 spend in local stores, $68 comes back to the community,” Blake pointed out. If you spend that money at a national chain, only $43 remains in the community, and if you spend that $100 online, nothing comes back to the community, she added.

Blake talked about some of the businesses in Adairville and all the wonderful things they offer. She challenged everyone to commit to the 3/50 project and do their part to help the local economy.

“We should be shopping at home,” Blake concluded, adding that this is something residents of all communities should focus on.

“I think it’s a great idea,” said Mayor Jim Wilkerson as others on the council agreed.

The 3/50 Project began somewhat by accident according to the website (www.the350project.net). In response to much negative media coverage about the economy and a call for innovation during these difficult times, retail consultant and professional speaker Cindy Baxter wrote a blog issuing the challenge to spend $50 a month at three local store and encouraging people to spread the word about this challenge. She quickly created fliers promoting the project and started a web site and the idea is now spreading across the nation.

Blake said she thinks the project is important and she is trying to spread the word among local leaders, residents and business owners.

“We’re just a little mom and pop store,” said Mary Anne Davis, who co-owns Adairville Hardware with her husband, Charles Davis. She said more people spending money at their store would be a good thing.

“I think it’s a good idea if you can make it work,” Charles Davis added. He said many people tend to go to Wal-Mart and Lowes without even thinking about shopping locally.

“We’ve got a lot of good customers,” he said. “But more sure would help.”