The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association is a non-profit membership organization affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, incorporated in the state of Delaware, dedicated to the preservation and beautification on of the Historic Town of Smyrna, Delaware, and which stimulates an environment to assure that Smyrna is an attractive place to live, shop, work, and play.

    We hope you find this web site useful in discovering more about Smyrna, and Our Association. Please check back for updates to events and projects, and consider supporting the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association as a member.

There are many well-documented benefits to our communities and to each of us to choosing local, independently owned businesses. We realize it is not always possible to buy what you need locally and so we only ask you to Think Local FIRST!

Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local

1. Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from independent, locally owned businesses, instead of nationally owned chains, more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. Locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base. Each dollar you spend helps those businesses reinvest in neighborhood improvements and promote community development.

3. Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from small business owners than they do from large businesses. Festivals, sports teams, school events, churches and many service clubs benefit from their generosity.

5. Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust. By choosing to support local businesses, you help maintain our diversity and distinct flavor.

7. Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

9. Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community and provide the most jobs to our residents.

11. Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. 

13. Invest in community: Local business owners live in our community. They are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

15. Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make the most efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

17. Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.  A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

19. Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. This can spur interest in others who might be willing to invest in relocating to the area to establish other businesses.

A win-win situation for everyone!