By: Matthew Kayser
Local businesses can support their communities through employment, economic activity, and involvement with organizations serving local residents.
Small businesses do more for their communities than balance sheets tend to capture. They may hire locally, work with nearby suppliers, sponsor youth activities, and support causes that directly affect the people around them. Because their owners and employees often live in or near the areas they serve, these businesses can also develop close ties to local residents and organizations.
Supporting a local business therefore has potential effects beyond a single transaction. Money spent with an independent company may circulate through wages, supplier relationships, and further local spending. The relationship can also be more personal: Customers often deal with people who understand the area and whose professional reputation is connected to the community.
New Roofs, Inc., a residential, industrial, and commercial roofing company led by CEO and owner Josh Shaw, offers one example of how a small business can combine its roofing work with local involvement. Alongside completing roofing projects, the company has supported Lad Lake, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit serving young people and families.
How Local Businesses Can Contribute
A business does not need to be large to make a meaningful local contribution. Although small companies may have fewer resources than national corporations, they can direct their time, expertise, or financial support toward organizations with a clear connection to the communities they serve.
Shaw describes New Roofs as a small, younger team focused on growth and customer experience rather than sales quotas. The company operates on a set-margin model instead of a commission structure, which Shaw says is intended to keep the customer relationship at the center of its work.
Supporting Lad Lake
New Roofs’ involvement with Lad Lake illustrates one way a local company can participate in its community. Lad Lake has spent decades providing care, education, and family support services to young people experiencing trauma, instability, and behavioral health challenges.
Shaw serves on Lad Lake’s board, while New Roofs has supported the nonprofit’s annual Kettle Classic fundraiser. Through the event, supporters help Lad Lake continue providing programs for young people and families in Wisconsin.
This type of involvement goes beyond making a one-time contribution. Board service requires an individual to contribute time and participate in an organization’s direction, while recurring event sponsorship can help a nonprofit build awareness and maintain its fundraising efforts. For customers deciding where to spend their money, such involvement can provide insight into whether a business maintains meaningful connections within its community.
What to Look for in a Local Business
Community involvement can be one consideration when choosing a small local business, but it should be assessed alongside practical factors such as qualifications, relevant experience, and customer service. Buyers can look at whether a company has the licenses or certifications required for its work, how long it has served the area, and whether it can provide examples of comparable projects.
New Roofs, for example, holds an Illinois state license, has earned application certifications from major manufacturers, and has been awarded large commercial roofing projects. Those credentials speak to its professional experience, while its work with Lad Lake demonstrates a separate commitment to community participation.
Prospective customers can also review how openly a business communicates about its services, pricing, and previous work. References and customer reviews may provide further information about whether the company follows through on its commitments. Community activity should not replace these checks, but it can help customers understand the values and local relationships behind a business.
Choosing a small local company is ultimately both a purchasing decision and, in some cases, an opportunity to support a business that contributes to the surrounding area. Companies such as New Roofs show how professional services and community participation can operate alongside one another, allowing business growth to remain connected to the people and organizations within the company’s market.
