With the economy only beginning to rebound from the recession, it is more important now than ever to stimulate the local economy.

Leigh Anne Windham of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce said the Christmas season helps to support the county’s and the country’s economy. “First of all, shopping in Troy, of course, helps our overall economy,” Windham said. “Small businesses are not only the backbone of Troy and Pike County but also of the entire country. Small businesses are the largest employers in the country.”

On the local level, keeping money in Pike County helps to support the local infrastructure. “It is very important to keep our tax dollars here in Pike County,” Windham said. “They help to support our community, our education and our roads. It also supports our local businesses. It is so important to support your fellow Trojans and residents of Pike County.”

Juliette Adams of the Pink Parlor agreed with Windham’s assessment. “It’s important for people to shop locally because it keeps money in Pike County,” Adams said. “It helps to pay for the hospitals, the police departments and the schools. Part of taking pride in your community is shopping at local stores.”

Stephanie Telfair of Cotton Creek also said it was important to shop locally. “As a small business, we love it when people shop locally,” Telfair said. “It keeps more business in Troy. It helps to keep up revenue for our hometown. If you want to have nice businesses in Troy, you need to support those businesses.”

Windham said Troy does a great job of supporting its local businesses. “Our downtown in Troy seems to be flourishing. We have businesses that have been downtown for a number of years. We have brand new businesses that have done well on the Square. There are two new businesses that will be opening in the near future. Downtown Troy seems to be prospering.”