WE SAY NO TO DOLLAR GENERAL and yes to locally owned and operated businesses. We want to preserve Barnstead’s heritage and rural way of life. Although the perceived tax benefit and promise of new jobs seems alluring, as a company with almost 20 billion in annual revenues and 12,000 stores, this box store not only threatens our family owned and operated businesses, but also the local businesses and farms that supply products and goods to these stores. Any property tax or job benefit would be quickly erased by the Barnstead Country Store not being be able to re-open and/or one of our other great stores closing. Traffic in the proposed Dollar General site area will be chaotic at best, especially at school drop off and pickup.

I sign this petition because Barnstead's open space and rural way of life is our greatest asset and we want to preserve it for generations to come. We welcome and value family owned business and locally produced goods that enhance the value of this asset. We want to attract businesses such as shops, hospitality, restaurants, tourism, agriculture, and locally produced goods that create lasting economic opportunities while increasing our quality of life. We ask the leadership of the town of Barnstead to honor the people’s will as evidenced in studies such as the UNH study, town planning meetings including, but not limited to the Master Plan, and public testimony in number of town meetings and forums, to preserve our rural character for all the aforementioned reasons. If Dollar General is allowed to open, we request that the appearance of the building, lighting and signage be consistent with the look and feel of a traditional rural NH town and that traffic and safety concerns are addressed. By signing this petition, I certify that I am a permanent or seasonal resident or visitor of Barnstead, and should Dollar General open in this town, will not shop there and will vote instead with my dollars to support local businesses.