“Concern for Community” is one of the seven core cooperative principles, and Victory Electric’s commitment to community drives everything we do. We want to power meaningful connections with the member-owners we serve. That’s why it’s so important for Victory Electric to support businesses in the communities that make up our service area and do what we can to help them thrive.
Whether they’re located in small farming communities or micropolitan areas such as Dodge City, rural electric cooperatives like Victory Electric are engines of economic development that power our communities. We work with businesses of all sizes, charitable organizations and civic groups to improve the quality of life in rural America and boost economic growth. 
Victory Electric serves members located in all or parts of Ford, Gray, Hodgeman, Finney, Clark, Haskell, Edwards, Kiowa and Meade counties. Many of the hundreds of local businesses in our coverage area are also cooperative members, and we are proud to support them, no matter their size.
Small businesses generate about 44% of U.S. economic activity and employ about 59 million people, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small Business Saturday is a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities. This year’s Small Business Saturday is Nov. 30, the Saturday after Thanksgiving and in between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which mark the start of the holiday shopping season.
Although shopping online may be a convenient option, remembering to support local businesses and entrepreneurs during the holiday season offers long-term benefits. Visiting local small businesses to buy gifts, holiday trimmings and food is an investment in your community. So is attending seasonal events and local entertainment venues.
Think local and shop small — not just on Small Business Saturday but throughout the coming year. Local businesses often reinvest the dollars they earn in the community, which helps create jobs and stimulate the local economy. They contribute to local events and charities in their communities. They’re also more likely to develop personal connections with their customers so they can provide more personalized service.
Here are a few ways to support local businesses:
•    Get a take-out meal from your favorite Main Street restaurant. 
•    Meet up with a friend at a local coffee shop. 
•    Give a gift card to a local entertainment venue and promote local artists and performers.
•    Leave a 5-star review and post on social media about positive experiences at your favorite local businesses. 
•    Find unique gifts by buying from local artisans, home-based businesses and other entrepreneurs at craft fairs, holiday markets and other community events.
Small businesses are critical to our local economy, and we all benefit when we invest in their success.