Global supply chains are facing challenges they haven’t seen in years. One of the biggest disruptors has been the rising use of tariffs that can quickly increase costs for businesses and consumers alike. While these impacts are felt worldwide, they hit smaller communities like the Shuswap in unique ways. Rural businesses often have fewer resources to pivot quickly when import costs rise or delivery times stretch. And yet, this is exactly where our community has the power to make a difference by sourcing more of what we need from right here in the Shuswap.

Why Local Matters Now More Than Ever

Every dollar spent locally works harder than one sent out of town. When a local farmer, manufacturer, or service provider earns your business, they pay wages to local employees, shop at other area businesses, and reinvest in the community. Economists call this the “local multiplier effect,” and its benefits are significant because money spent here continues to circulate within our communities.

In contrast, purchases from distant suppliers often see most of the money leave the community immediately and when global trade faces turbulence that distance adds risk. When local suppliers are used, they can offer shorter delivery times, more consistent availability, and the personal connections that keep supply chains moving when bigger systems slow down.

Turning Global Disruption into Local Opportunity

Tariffs and other trade disruptions can also drive innovation in our community. Businesses that once relied heavily on imported materials may look to regional producers for alternatives. Likewise, supporting local manufacturing and craftsmanship strengthens our economic base, making us less dependent on outside forces we can’t control.

The Shuswap is well positioned for this. Our region has thriving agriculture, skilled tradespeople, and a growing network of small manufacturers. Choosing locally grown produce, hiring area contractors, or partnering with nearby suppliers doesn’t just help individual businesses, it diversifies and stabilizes our economy as a whole.

Small Actions with Big Impact

Supporting the local economy doesn’t always require major changes. Here are some ways individuals and businesses can make a difference:

• Buy local products: From produce at the farmers’ market to services from local trades, every purchase counts.
• Support local growers and producers: Shuswap farmers face the same rising costs as others—your support helps them stay competitive.
• Encourage local manufacturing: Choosing locally made goods keeps production jobs in the community.
• Participate in community initiatives: Farmers’ markets, community-supported agriculture programs, and business associations all help strengthen local supply chains.
• Advocate for local procurement: Encouraging governments, schools, and institutions to prioritize local suppliers has long-term benefits for the region.

Resilience Through Relationships

In times of uncertainty, strong relationships are the glue that holds a local economy together. When you know your supplier personally, you can discuss challenges, negotiate solutions, and adapt together. That trust and flexibility are hard to replicate in transactions that happen thousands of kilometres away.

By choosing to invest in those relationships, we also invest in the stability and self-reliance of the Shuswap.

A Call to Action

Global forces may be beyond our control, but how we respond locally is entirely in our hands. By thinking “local first,” we can keep more money in the community, create jobs, and ensure that our economy is better equipped to handle whatever changes lie ahead.

The Shuswap Economic Development Society encourages everyone—residents, businesses, and institutions—to take that next step toward local sourcing. Every purchase is a choice, and every choice has an impact.

In the face of global uncertainty, our greatest strength lies right here in our backyard. Let’s make the most of it.