Small businesses do much more than offer products or services—as business leaders, we have the opportunity to spark innovation, shape industries and strengthen the communities we call home.
My software company was founded, built and grown in our home state of Oregon, and we’ve never lost sight of our roots. We intentionally built our company to not only serve clients across the country and beyond, but also to support the people and places that helped us grow. In 2018, we purchased our headquarters in the same small city where the company began—and where our team continues to live and work today. Even as our reach has expanded, our revenue continues to fuel our local economy. Thanks to our clients’ success, we’re proud to reinvest in our community and support local initiatives that make a difference—for our employees, our business and the place we call home.
For small business owners, balancing growth and community is a powerful business model to drive long-term success and create lasting change.
Investing in Your Local Community: A Catalyst for Sustainable Growth
Small business growth is certainly about expansion—to new markets, new customers and new revenue streams. But sustainable, long-term growth doesn’t happen without building a strong foundation. Reinvesting in your local economy is one way to give back while supporting long-term success for your business.
- Hire locally: Our entire team lives and works in our home state, and their salaries help to fuel the local economy and sustain other small businesses in our area. Our employees have purchased homes, grown their families and given back to their communities in both their professional and personal lives—they volunteer in their neighborhoods, hold leadership positions at local schools and sit on various committees and advisory councils in our community. As a tech company, it would be easy to build a remote team, but instead, we choose to provide opportunities to the emerging talent right here in our home state, contributing to a strong local workforce and fostering economic growth locally.
- Create opportunities: We intentionally work with products, suppliers, vendors and other businesses based in our region to keep revenue circulating within our community. Whether it’s choosing a local banking institution, partnering with a local marketing agency or joining the local Chamber of Commerce, we aim to positively impact the economic ecosystem of the area we call home.
- Set an example: When small businesses support one another, it creates a ripple effect, encouraging other entrepreneurs to do the same and helping to build a resilient regional economy.
Actionable Takeaway
Take a look at your business spending—where can you shift your business relationships, hiring practices or service partnerships to local options in your community?
Giving Back as a Core Business Value
One of the strategic decisions that has enabled us to prioritize community impact is remaining debt-free, independently owned and owner-operated—even as we’ve grown. Without outside investors or a board to answer to, we’ve been free to build a values-driven culture that benefits our employees, our clients and our community.
You don’t have to choose purpose over profit, but community support needs to be more than an afterthought. The key is to incorporate giving back into the foundation of your business in a financially sustainable way.
- Volunteer your time: Your time and expertise can be just as impactful as financial contributions. Actively participating with organizations that align with your business goals and company values allows you to connect with your community, grow your network and gain valuable insight from other business leaders.
- Involve your team: What organizations, events or projects resonate with your team? Encourage your employees to share the causes and initiatives they care about and support their involvement. You will foster a company culture rooted in shared values and purpose and deepen relationships with customers who share similar values.
Actionable Takeaway
Identify the causes that align with your mission—it could be youth development, environmental advocacy, animal welfare or veterans’ support. Find ways to contribute through volunteering, donations, sponsorships or partnerships that make sense for your business.
The Business Case for Community Engagement
Look at community engagement as an investment in the long-term success of your business, not just an act of goodwill. A strong and engaged community will ultimately support and sustain your business. Balancing business growth with community impact helps build stronger businesses and stronger communities.
- Spark innovation: Community engagement drives innovation by exposing your business to fresh ideas, diverse perspectives and new collaboration opportunities. These insights spark problem-solving and innovation, which fuel your ability to grow and leave a lasting impact.
- Build company culture: A company culture rooted in shared values, purpose and goals typically leads to more engaged and satisfied employees. Stronger employee morale means greater retention—plus you’re more likely to attract top talent.
- Drive customer loyalty: Today’s consumers are increasingly choosing brands that align with their values. Businesses that are actively and authentically involved in their local communities inspire trust and long-term loyalty among existing and potential customers.
- Boost long-term stability: When your community thrives, your business thrives. A strong local economy and workforce benefits all businesses, including your own.
I challenge all my fellow entrepreneurs and business leaders to ask themselves: How can your business do more than generate revenue? What’s one way your business can give back today? How can your business drive both success and meaningful change?
Kaycee Miller has 15 years of marketing expertise, leading strategies to drive brand awareness, enhance customer engagement and help businesses grow and thrive. Today she is co-owner and Director of Marketing & Operations at Rentec Direct, a property management software company recognized as a top small business by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. LinkedIn.
