My name is a concerned resident of Shelbyville, and along with many others, we confront a deeply tangible issue. Our town is being inundated with dollar stores, like Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar, which hinder the development of more substantial and essential retail stores, such as Meijer, Target, Lowe's, Crew Carwash, and Home Depot. This current dollar store proliferation does not address the diverse needs of our community—in many instances, they only exacerbate the issue.

As per the Institute of Local Self-Reliance, dollar stores often cater to lower-income neighborhoods, leading to the displacement of local grocery stores and restricting the availability of fresh food and products to residents (ILSR, 2018). Shelbyville is in need of variety, not just in terms of retail but in products and services offered too – from home improvement supplies to a broader spectrum of groceries.

A lot of us don't have the finances to regularly drive to other towns that offer such variety. The dollar store saturation is smothering our town's growth and limiting our choices. The time has come for our community to rally against this unwanted monopoly. We aren't looking for another dollar store—we yearn for big retailers that can enrich our lives and boost our local economy.

Please sign this petition to halt the approval of any more dollar stores in Shelbyville, and to urge our officials to attract the big retailers our town requires. Help us in the fight to diversify Shelbyville's retail landscape and improve the quality of life for all its residents. Your signature can inspire the change we desperately need.