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Hi. I'm State Representative Terry Brown, with my weekly update, "Talking With Terry."

As we all re-evaluate our finances after a tough year, it's a good time to remember how important it is to support our locally owned businesses.

Small businesses across the Thumb and across Michigan have been hit especially hard by these tough economic times. These companies provide jobs for our neighbors, our friends, and our families. These shops, restaurants and stores make up the heart and soul of our communities.

We need them – and now, more than ever, they need us. If we each commit to buying local just a little more often, starting with this holiday season, we can make a big difference.

In addition to creating local jobs, buying local keeps your money here at home. The cash you spend re-circulates in our local economy because local businesses tend to buy from other local businesses, service providers and farms. Local businesses also are usually owned by people who live in our community, so they are less likely to leave and are more invested in our future. By supporting local shops and stores, you're also helping to keep our cities, towns and villages unique.

The places where we shop, eat and have fun are part of what makes us special, part of what keeps our kids and grandkids coming back each year and tourists coming to visit. By keeping our hometown businesses strong, you're also increasing our attractiveness to new residents and new employers. In a world where so many places are starting to look the same, people prefer to settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. At local businesses, you can get fresher products too, because they're grown or raised right here.

And you're more likely to get better service at a local store that features hometown employees who know their products and their customers.

Whether it is buying something you need, going out for a special meal or sending a taste of home to a relative far away, let's all do our part to support our local businesses. Each purchase truly makes a difference.

I want to let you know about two Web sites that can help you find Michigan-made products and Michigan-owned companies:

They are www.buymichfirst.com and www.buymichigannow.com.

Both sites allow businesses to list themselves for free, and I encourage local folks to do that right away. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. You can call me, toll-free, at (888) 254-5284. Or, you can e-mail me at terrybrown@house.mi.gov. You can also visit my Web site to find out more about my work or to sign up for my e-newsletter. The address is house.mi.gov/tbrown. Thank you for listening to "Talking with Terry."

Make it a great day!