Progress or Decay? It really is up to you...

"Buy local!"

"DO!"

"Take action!"

You've heard a lot of this.  I'm not sure people in town really understand the importance.  The economy sucks and everyone knows it.  I'm not sure everyone realizes how lucky Malvern has been to have the growth and momentum they have enjoyed recently.  THE MOMENTUM IS ABOUT OUT!

I can't emphasize this enough.  If you enjoy being able to grab a gift, groceries, meal, hair cut, or whatever product or service you get on occasion in town, you need to do it more.  Or it will be gone.

Businesses don't want your pity.  Handouts are not necessary.  No one is asking for the last $5 in your bank account.  Plain and simple, we all need to buy what we can in town.  These aren't non-profit organizations.  These are people that have put their own livelihood and money into a business.  To serve you.  If you want them to stick around, you'd better do something about it.

And if you don't think 'you' is you?  Take a second look at what is offered in town.  Did you get your hair cut at Side Street last time or did you stop at the mall?  Did you stop at Hy-Vee for that steak or did you stop at Mulhollands?  Quick drive thru at McDonald's, or at C&M's?  Family dinner at Applebee's or at the Cafe?  Re-subscribe to a magazine you look at once, or grab a Malvern Leader?  Grab a drink after work at Old Chicago or meet someone at Excuses?

If you want these options to remain, you really do need to think about that.  Think about the amount of local people that work at these locations.  Think about the taxes they generate that pay for your street to get fixed. 

Think about the reaction 10 years ago when you said you were from Malvern.  Really think.  Chances are it was one of two possibilities.  1 - Where?  2 - Oh... that's a quiet little town.  Haven't been there since the Fourth of July... about 15 years ago.

Now think about what the reaction is now.

If you want to keep these things you MUST do what you can.  If you want to keep empty and dangerous building off of Main Street, you must spend.  Not everything you have.  What you can.  I haven't seen many Prius cruising around town at 70 mpg.  You'll probably save the money of a slightly higher cost on gas alone.  Let alone what you're contributing to the local economy.

Now or never people.  Do you want progress or decay.  It's that simple.