Some easy changes to make include going to local mechanics instead of dealerships, and a local bookstore instead of an online retailer.

In addition to being beneficial for your local economy, local banks often offer the same services with lower fees attached.

There are often locally owned restaurants at a variety of prices. You can replace your fast food habit with local options and not have to shoulder too great a price increase.

If you live in a major US city, for example, you can check on your alderman’s website to see what issues are impacting your neighborhood. You can also check websites from your mayor, your district representative, or your area’s parliament member. You can also go to talks, lectures, or seminars regarding economic challenges in your area. Check with spaces such as local colleges and universities, libraries, and community centers to see if they will be hosting a discussion regarding this topic in the near future. No matter where you are, there will be a number of ideas about what will be best for your local economy. Some of these ideas may conflict. That is why it is important to do thorough research and consider multiple arguments.

Some potential concerns that can be addressed on a city or regional level include issues such as minimum wage, support programs for small businesses, local immigration policy, social support programs, and public works projects.

Certain news aggregates will allow you to set up alerts, such as Google Alerts, to let you know when new news is published regarding a certain topic. If, for example, you are interested in a local election, you can set an alert for “Peoria, IL election 2018. ”[9] X Research source

If, for example, you want to champion eating locally, talk to a local chef about doing a cooking demo at the farmer’s market using locally-grown and produced ingredients.

First, it allows you to offer for free services that are typically paid. This frees up money in communities that are often underserved or underprivileged to invest in themselves. Second, it keeps you in touch with the economic interests of your community. By seeing where volunteers are needed and speaking with others in your area, you can better inform yourself about what others in your area value.