6 Surprising Ways Your Local Government Can Help Your Business
Did you know your local government is one of the best small business marketing resources available to you? Your business, after all, pays taxes, so you'll want to make sure that the money goes going towards projects that improve your business’s surrounding area and increase commercial opportunities.
Whether you work with your local neighborhood representative or city officials, remember their job is to help business like yourself drive more commerce and to improve the town experience for residents. Here are six ways your local government can help your business.
1. Parking
The lack of parking as well as pricey and short-term parking reduces the likelihood that customers will linger after completing their errands or finishing a meal. Offering accessible and convenient parking is essential to attracting more customers to your town’s commercial center.
Get together with other local business owners and petition the city to provide ample parking options and policies that promote commerce. Many local governments today are agreeing to “turn off” metered parking after 7 p.m. to encourage dinner crowds to extend their evening beyond their meals.
2. Informative signs
Many commercial districts span multiple blocks in several directions. Businesses on the outskirts of commercial streets can struggle with decreased foot traffic. Posting “wayfinding” signs will inform shoppers and visitors which stores are located down the block, increasing the likelihood of foot traffic off the main commercial thoroughfare. Commercial district maps can also be placed on select city corners to give visitors an overview of the area.
In addition to directional signs in your business’s immediate vicinity, consider posting signs on major roadways that point to your town’s commercial district. Local government officials should be willing to fund these signs once you point out the commerce opportunities they would create.
3. Lighting
If your business is located on a dark street, bad lighting can make your store's sign less visible, and will also discourage people from passing by your store front. Petition your city for additional street lighting to increase shopper foot traffic. There are many low-cost alternatives to large-scale lamps, including sidewalk lights, in-ground lights, or string lights on trees.
RELATED: Small Businesses Speaking Out: How to Be Heard by Policy Makers
4. Trash
A trash-strewn sidewalk or street creates a negative experience for downtown visitors. Ask your local government to place public trash cans on every street corner. Also the collection of city trash should be frequent—the longer trash bags sit around, uncollected, the more likely they are to tear open and spew garbage all over the neighborhood.
Familiarize yourself with your city’s rules and regulations about waste disposal and make sure neighboring stores aren’t creating additional trash problems. Anonymously report violators to keep your commercial district looking good and trash free.
5. Downtown events
A city-sponsored street fair, festival, or concert can bring large numbers of foot traffic to your commercial district. Even a single event can raise awareness of shopping and commercial opportunities and turn attendees into long-term, regular visitors. Work with other business owners to ask your city to host an event—the more businesses that ask for a street fair, the more likely it will become a reality, sooner than later.
6. Abandoned buildings
While it may be hard for a city to control the number of unoccupied buildings in a neighborhood, it is the city’s responsibility to ensure abandoned buildings aren’t safety hazards. Abandoned buildings also bring down surrounding property values which can negatively impact your storefront and business (in addition to turning off shoppers). Your local Buildings Department, Department of Public Works, or even Chamber of Commerce can help by securing the building or at the very least painting the abandoned building.
Remember, if you are paying taxes to help your city run, it should be providing sufficient service to your business and commercial district. Let your voice be heard, improve your community, and watch your business grow!
