How You Can Help Your Community Recover After a Disaster

Natural disasters, like the recent storms here in Texas, storms hitting Florida and other coastal states, and fires across the western areas of the country have made me think. Both as a community member and as a business owner I feel called to help my friends, family, and my community. I’m sure there are other business owners out there who also want to contribute to relief efforts and are trying to think up ways to help outside of the obvious volunteering of time and donating money.

Hiring local contractors and stimulating economic growth within the locality affected area whenever possible seems like a great place to start! Once all the local businesses are busy, then it’s great to make use of many out-of-towners who have come to help, as well. To hire our community members first where should we start?

Here are my ideas of where to look for recommendations and listings:

(Please feel free to add your suggestions in the comments!)

Local Chambers of Commerce

https://www.chamberofcommerce.com/chambers

Local Chapters of Business Networking International (BNI)

https://www.bni.com/

Local Chapters of the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

https://www.bbb.org/en/us/

Nextdoor

https://nextdoor.com/

Local Rotary Clubs

https://www.rotary.org/

Angie’s List

https://www.angieslist.com/

Your Church Registry

Resources:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Information - Hiring a Contractor

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0242-hiring-contractor

Contractor’s License Reference Site

https://www.contractors-license.org/

5 Essential Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

https://www.houselogic.com/remodel/budgeting-contracting/five-essential-questions-ask-before-hiring-contractor/

We can literally help rebuild our communities through construction projects after these national disasters. Keeping money within our local economies and growing small businesses benefits everyone.

Do you have any tips or suggestions you would like to share? Please comment below.