Shop Local, Eat Local This Holiday Season­

By City Manager Ken Striplin

As the holiday season unfolds, it's the ideal time to emphasize the importance of supporting our local businesses. By choosing to shop and dine within our community, you're making a direct impact on our City's economy. Every purchase helps create jobs, boost tax revenue and enhance the overall quality of life for all who call Santa Clarita their home.

Every purchase you make at a local business helps keep money within our community. Rather than benefiting outside businesses, these dollars circulate right here in Santa Clarita, allowing our local economy to flourish. This support enables our businesses to grow, hire more of our neighbors as employees and reinvest in the community. When local establishments thrive, this enables them to expand their services, create new opportunities and provide even more value to our residents and neighbors.

Shopping locally also generates vital tax revenue, which plays an integral role in funding important public services. The sales tax from your holiday purchases helps support our City's schools, maintains our public roads through the Road Rehab program and creates new amenities like the Valencia Community Center. This funding is crucial in ensuring that Santa Clarita continues to be a safe, welcoming and well-maintained place for everyone to enjoy.

For those looking to shop small this season, Santa Clarita offers a variety of unique boutiques where you can find one-of-a-kind gifts and holiday essentials. Head to Old Town Newhall for that small-town shopping atmosphere, from home-made self-care products to revitalized clothing, accessories and décor, you'll be sure to find what you need. Don't forget to visit the Valencia Town Center for an array of shops for all your holiday essentials. When planning meals and gatherings, I encourage you to consider our local restaurants. Santa Clarita is home to an impressive range of culinary experiences, offering everything from cozy family dinners to fine dining. By choosing to dine locally, you're supporting our neighbors who are the chefs, servers and kitchen staff who work hard to create memorable meals and curate a welcoming dining environment for all.

If you're looking to learn more about Santa Clarita's small businesses, tune into the award-winning "Santa Clarita Spotlight" series on SCVTV. This ongoing collaboration between the City and SCVTV highlights the businesses that contribute to Santa Clarita's economy, featuring both hidden gems and community favorites. Additionally, VisitSantaClarita.com is an excellent resource for discovering the many businesses throughout our City. It's a valuable tool for residents and visitors alike, offering helpful information on where to shop, dine and explore.

Supporting our local businesses is more than an economic choice - it's a commitment to our community's well-being and future. By choosing to shop and dine locally, you're preserving the unique character of Santa Clarita and contributing to a brighter, stronger community. This holiday season, let's all make an impact by keeping our holiday spending close to home.

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at [email protected].