Letter to the Editor: Growth Starts at Home

Local businesses cannot survive on good wishes. They need local dollars, open minds, a community willing to show up.

#Opinion | 3:50 p.m. June 28, 2026

The Moore County Observer welcomes and encourages a wide range of viewpoints and opinions from the community. Opinion pieces, columns, and guest submissions reflect the views of their respective authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Observer, its staff, or its ownership. We believe open, respectful dialogue strengthens public understanding and civic engagement, and we are committed to providing a forum for diverse perspectives.

This guest submission is from Paige Banks Jones.

Small towns often struggle with the same issues Moore County faces.

It’s hard for someone to invest in a small town when buying habits are difficult to change and small businesses have to compete with larger towns nearby. Tullahoma, for example, has big-box stores that can buy in volume and offer lower prices than most independent businesses can.

At the same time, attracting large industry is not simple either. A factory or plant would face challenges with water, utilities, infrastructure, housing, traffic, and workforce competition. A new employer would also compete with pay rates from Jack Daniel’s and could bring growth pressures that many citizens may not actually want.

So the question becomes: What kind of growth do we really want?

Do we want more funding for schools? Higher-paying jobs? More businesses? A good restaurant? More opportunities for our children and grandchildren? And if so, are we willing to support the businesses and changes that make those things possible?

Small towns also struggle with small vision. Too often, new ideas are dismissed because they are different, because they step on someone’s toes, or because of the old mindset of “you’re not from around here.” We can and should protect small-town values, but we also have to understand that we can’t have it all without supporting good change.

Before heading to another town, ask yourself: Is there a business here I can support first?

Moore County has had dress shops, a baby store, a deli, an outfitter carrying top-name brands, and other businesses that served locals. Many of them closed. Why? Because a business owner cannot keep investing in products and services for locals if only tourists are the ones coming to town to spend money.

If we want a stronger Moore County, it starts with us. Good people who love this community have to truly love it enough to support it. And we need an open mind to support people who are willing to work to bring good change without being negative, shutting down every idea, and refusing to support anything that doesn’t fit inside their small-minded box.

– Paige Banks Jones