How shopping local in southeast Iowa promotes a stronger sense of community

OTTUMWA, Iowa — Thanksgiving and Black Friday may have us thinking about gift shopping and festive meals, but Small Business Saturday highlights the local businesses that are at the heart of our community.

Jose Lopez Co-owner of Cerro Grande Meat Market in Ottumwa told KTVO, “It’s really tough competing with, say, a bigger corporate market, but when you shop local, you’re helping us and we also try to help the community.”

Lopez explains that they give back to the community through giveaways, donations, and, most importantly, by keeping grocery prices reasonable to help struggling families keep food on the table.

Local businesses, like Cerro Grande, are deeply invested in the city of Ottumwa and its surrounding areas because it’s their community, too.

The store operates with five family employees and two additional staff members.

Lopez says that working with family is rewarding, but running a business is a 24-hour job that requires passion and dedication.

“We try to help out and be a little bit of someone’s cheerful part of the day,” says Lopez. “Even though sometimes it’s hard for us to be cheerful as well because it’s really stressful back here all the time. It’s always a fast-paced environment.”

Ottumwa’s small business owners aren’t just dedicated to helping their customers, they’re also committed to supporting one another.

“The easiest way to work as a business, I think, is working with other businesses from the area,” explains Lopez. “So for example, Dusty from Warehouse and the Iowa Barbecue Store came and asked me, ‘Hey, I have all these sauces and rubs and everything. Would you like to place them inside your store? And I said yes.'”

By saying yes, Cerro Grande fills a need for their meat market and supports another local business.

Lopez and his team highlight how shopping locally can help strengthen the sense of community in Ottumwa and southeast Iowa.

It’s about more than just a transaction, it’s about supporting the people and businesses that make this area unique and helping to grow a more connected, thriving community for everyone.