Larry Horne has been all over the world with his interior design business. His services have been sought out by titans of industry and kings and queens.

But when he decided to open an antiques shop, he remembered his roots here in Scotland County.

Locals leaders expressed their gratitude to Horne during a ribbon cutting held for the Fairley Street business this past Friday. They said Horne could have opened his collectibles shop anywhere, but decided to locate in downtown Laurinburg.

It is that kind of pride in Scotland County that will help grow our community.

The other side of that equation is you.

Businesses have to be willing to come, but you have to be willing to spend your dollars here too. Studies have shown that dollars spent at small, locally-owned businesses stay local.

When you shop at local businesses, your money is recirculated, creating up to 75 percent more tax revenue for Scotland County.

For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $73 remains in the local economy, and $27 leaves. For that same $100 spent at non-locally owned business, $43 remains in the local economy, and $57 leaves.

Local residents will get a chance to show a little community spirit when the Laurinburg-Scotland County Chamber of Commerce kicks off its Shop Local campaign. Harley Norris is heading the campaign and Jennifer McRae has designed the game boards.

Here is how the effort will work. Shoppers will be given game boards featuring more than two dozen local businesses. When consumers make a purchase at a participating business, they receive a stamp to place on the game board. It takes 10 stamps to complete a game board. Completed game boards will go into a box at the chamber. The winner will be determined by a drawing and the grand prize is a flat screen television donated by Barringer’s Inc. (Ned’s).

You should see Shop Local signs popping up soon in the windows of participating businesses. The campaign will begin in November and run through Dec. 17.