How Large Business Closings Affect Small Towns

One major car dealership closing down can impact the following aspects of a small town:

· The employees of the dealership itself will feel the burden first with loss of employment.

· The dealership was most likely a contributor to charities, school fundraisers, local events, and other community activities. All of these places will be forced to make cutbacks and look for other means of funding when the business closes.

· Local restaurants the employees frequented on lunch breaks will lose customers and sales.

· Local banks that hold loans for the employees of the car dealership may suffer when people can no longer make payments on time.

· People who can no longer pay their rent will move, therefore cutting into the profits of apartment and housing communities.

· Employees will move to other states for jobs, which will mean local gas stations lose customers and money because not as many people live in the town.

· The unemployment rate will sky rocket, making it harder for everyone in the town to find jobs.

· The unemployed will still need medical attention. People will have to go to free clinics and the health department. This will put a strain on the resources of those establishments.

· Families forced to move out of the community will cause problems for local schools and stores. Some schools get funds for having a certain number of children enrolled. The more children, the more funds the school gets to run things. Local stores will feel the crunch when those same children are not buying school clothes and supplies, and their parents aren't shopping for groceries and other items.

As you can see, a major closing of a business in a small town has significant implications for the community. Unfortunately, it seems closing are inevitable right now. We can only hope a major business closing in a small town doesn't cause a ripple effect putting smaller companies out of business also.

On the brighter side, inhabitants of small towns do help each other. Whatever can be done to lessen the burden of struggling families, will be. People in small towns band together and support one another in times of trouble. Often, this is the only thing that gets them through.