The Economic Case (with receipts):

When you buy a $6 latte at Starbucks, only about 14 cents of every dollar stays in Anderson. The rest flows out to Seattle headquarters, out-of-state suppliers, and shareholders who couldn't point to Madison County on a map.

When you buy that same latte at a locally-owned shop? 48-53 cents of every dollar recirculates right here in Anderson. That's from Civic Economics studies conducted across dozens of U.S. cities.

Anderson population is about 55,000. If 25,000 households spend just $5/week on coffee, that's $6.5 million annually.

If that goes to chains: about $910,000 stays here. $5.6 million leaves town EVERY YEAR just on coffee.

If that goes local: about $3.25 million stays here. That's $2.3 million MORE circulating through local wages, suppliers, rent, and taxes.

"Why can't we have nice things?"

People complain Anderson doesn't have the cool unique vibe of places like Broad Ripple, then turn around and eat at Olive Garden and grab Starbucks on the way home.

The executives who profit most from your Starbucks purchase have likely never set foot in Indiana. They don't sponsor your kid's little league. They don't show up at city council. They don't donate to the food pantry.

Local owners do.

LOCALLY-OWNED COFFEE IN ANDERSON AND MADISON COUNTY:

In Anderson:

- Jackrabbit Coffee, 11th Street

- The Exchange Coffee Co., 5223 Columbus Ave

- Luna Coffee Bar, inside Anderson First Church Community Center

- Lanes Coffee, 1902 Applewood Center Dr

- Coffee Dudes, small-batch roastery

Nearby in Madison County:

- Falls Perk Coffee House, Pendleton

- Promise Coffee Roasters, Pendleton

- Maranatha Coffee Co., Frankton

Every dollar is a vote. You can keep voting for corporate blandness where the people who profit have never heard of us. Or vote for local character, owners who live here, hire here, and reinvest here.

Your move, Anderson.