Md. Comptroller urges Marylanders to shop local this holiday season

MARYLAND – Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is urging folks to shop local this holiday season. “The citizens of the state, all six million of us, pull out our VISA cards and buy gift cards from these wonderful family owned main street small businesses. Through no fault of their own they’re just hanging on by their fingernails I guess is a way to describe it,” said Comptroller Franchot.

He says that those who have the money should think about supporting their local businesses while getting their holiday shopping done. The comptroller adds that without this extra support many businesses are at risk of going under before the end of 2020. “Give them some business because otherwise they’re going to close. If they close it will be a tragedy, not just for them but for the state because we’re going to pay a lot more money replacing them than we ever would have just keeping them open.” said Comptroller Franchot.

Plus, Comptroller Franchot tells 47ABC that Maryland’s credit unions are stepping in to help. He adds that if you’re a member of a credit union, it could be even easier to support local business this year. “They’re partnering with us in the first time in history and they said we’re going to join your request for people to shop local. But we’re going to give them an incentive by I think either doubling or tripling the number of points they earn on the credit cards they’re issued,” said Comptroller Franchot.

Besides that, what the comptroller is suggesting is that people use their holiday budget to buy gift cards from local businesses. He also people should order their products online if the business has an online ordering system.