We, the residents of White County, GA, are deeply concerned about the proposed construction of yet another Dollar General store in our peaceful rural area. We are a community rooted in the tranquility and beauty of our rural surroundings. The proposed construction of this Dollar General threatens to disrupt this peace. The proposed location is at 0 Ed Lewis Road (at the intersection of Ed Lewis Road and GA-115W). This issue is personal to us. We cherish our gravel roads and country setting - we do not want them destroyed by increased traffic. The prospect of paving our beloved gravel road for commercial use is unacceptable. This area is home to low-density residential homes and farmland, a testament to our love for simplicity and nature - an idyllic setting that we wish to preserve. We do not want an eyesore that disrupts the natural beauty of our surroundings.

The intersection where this store is planned to be built is already dangerous; adding more traffic will only increase the risk of accidents. There will not be enough road frontage for a turning lane to be added. With more traffic brought by a new commercial establishment, we fear for more accidents and potential loss of life or injury. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), rural areas account for a disproportionate number of traffic fatalities considering their population size.

Moreover, numerous studies have shown that such developments can lead to lowered property values due to changes in landscape and increased noise pollution. As homeowners who take pride in our properties and community, this prospect is deeply troubling. 

There are already SIX Dollar Generals within a 10 mile radius of 208 Ed Lewis Road, with the nearest one being located within walking distance at 6507 GA-52 E, Murrayville, GA 30564, only 4.1 miles away. We do not need ANOTHER Dollar General!

We understand that businesses can bring economic benefits but not at the expense of safety, tranquility, and property value decline in residential areas such as ours. The major chain dollar stores have all been cited numerous times for serious safety violations that endanger workers and shoppers, from exposed electrical wiring to inaccessible emergency exits to serious rodent infestations. Chain dollar stores are inundating America's communities. In both small towns and urban neighborhoods, they are edging out locally owned businesses, freezing out entrepreneurs, and shifting profits from local cash registers to corporate investors' pockets. Their impact is particularly harsh on the grocery sector (Locally-owned Tomato House is just a few miles down the road). They displace good jobs with lower-paying ones, and they often use tactics that trick shoppers into believing they are getting bargains. The loss of smaller competitors isn't accidental; it's monopoly strategy. Because of their massive market power and cash reserves, chain dollar stores can buy inventory in enormous quantities at discounts rarely available to small businesses. They also use their market power to get priority access to scarce inventory from their suppliers, persuade manufacturers to make smaller packages, and strike other deals that are far out of reach of locally owned businesses. 

Locally owned businesses spend a large percentage of their profits locally. They pay rent; buy supplies; hire accountants, lawyers, and other professionals; engage cleaning and trash collection services; buy advertising; buy utility services; pay property and sales tax; support local school, civic, and charitable groups; hire staff; and much more. They also support their owners’ households, their staffs’ households, and the many local businesses from which those households pay for housing, transportation, food, clothing, personal and professional services, entertainment, education, and many other things.

By contrast, only a modest percentage of a dollar chain’s profits remain in the community. They flow back to the corporation, and the corporation then spends the profits on expansion, shareholder dividends, stock buybacks (to beef up their share price), and directors’ compensation. Even their rent payments usually go to out-of-area developers who specialize in developing and leasing buildings to dollar store chains. The only portions of their profits that typically remain local and benefit the community are utility payments, property tax, and salaries — all of which are also paid by locally owned businesses. The community ultimately loses local wealth and gains nothing in return. Numerous studies have shown that roughly 45-60 percent of a dollar spent in a locally owned business remains and recirculates in the community, versus only 14-30 percent spent in chain stores.

We simply do not need to increase commercialization in this area. We believe that preserving the character of our community should take precedence over commercial expansion.

We urge decision-makers to reconsider this plan and prioritize safety, environment preservation, and the wishes of local residents who value their rural lifestyle over commercial development. We urge you not just as residents, but as stewards of this land that we love so dearly: stop Dollar General from building in our rural area. Please stand with us against this proposal - sign this petition today!