SACRAMENTO, Calif. — With many businesses struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments are encouraging people to focus on shopping small and supporting local businesses.
Currently, restaurants across the state of California are only able to provide take-out and retail stores can only accommodate 20% capacity at a time.
Here are ways to stay local and shop for the perfect last-minute gift.
Sacramento
Sacramento.Shop is a marketplace that helps local innovative entrepreneurs sell their products online. From face masks and cutting boards to wall art and home goods, it's a one-stop shop for all things local and earth-friendly. You can shop by artist to support a particular artisan or by category to discover new things.
Elk Grove
The city of Elk Grove began the Why Buy Local? campaign in July 2020 to encourage residents to shop and support local businesses. They say the campaign helps promote jobs and supports the community. Shopping local also helps provide city services.
"Spending in Elk Grove provides the city tax revenue needed to provide services that keep the city running and enhance the quality of life," reads the website.
See what local businesses are doing in Elk Grove by clicking here.
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Placer County
Shop Placer is an effort to encourage Placer County residents to support local businesses. The county said local businesses are the heart of their community.
Yolo County
Yolo County is full of businesses and shops that offer a local flare to any gift. Using the Yolo Boutique website, you can find featured local businesses in Davis, Winters and Woodland. You can also purchase collections or bundles of local gift cards.
Carla Wroten, the co-owner of Steady Eddy's Cafe and Roasting Room in Winters started the online shop when she needed a way to get her product out to people beyond her storefront.
"It was really impactful to be able to say, 'I can sell your wine and my coffee,' and people love that opportunity to be able to buy both and support multiple business owners,'" Wroten said.
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Stockton
According to the University of the Pacific Center for Business and Policy Research, for every $100 spent in Stockton, $67 will stay local. Visit Stockton has a full list of businesses that have last minute gifts such as gift cards, museum passes and more. Check it out here.
El Dorado County
The El Dorado County Chamber of Commerce is challenging residents to make the pledge to shop small and shop local this season.
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We asked you to tell us which local restaurants need community support right now and you delivered. Check out our Facebook post below.
Many of you have texted our Dollars and Sense team questions on FED-ED. We’re answering the common questions.
