Journal editorial: Brandon Burger Battle goes over the line for good reasons

Should Brandon’s Burger Battle allow establishments outside of the city limits to participate?

That’s a question being debated on local social media avenues.

The Burger Battle is one of many endeavors the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce organizes. These events are planned with these goals in mind: to bring business to Chamber members and generate sales tax revenue for the city.

Sales tax, as many know, is one of the main revenue sources that allows our city to repair roads and infrastructure, build parks and bring in new developments, etc.

Because two of the participating Brandon Burger Battle businesses do no operate within the city limits, those tax dollars are obvious lost sales tax revenue to the city.

But are they really?

We understand the public’s outcry for allowing establishments outside the city’s borders to participate in this promotion.

The Chamber leadership, however, believes allowing businesses outside of Brandon ultimately comes back to benefit Brandon. Here’s what they have to say:

“Brandon is one of the first communities the residents of Larchwood drive to while traveling west. Our marketing encourages them to stop in Brandon for the Burger Battle. These community members will most likely try the burgers in Iowa first and then make their way into Brandon to try the rest of the burgers in the battle. Their next stop in Brandon may be to get a new set of tires, shop at our hardware store, fill up with fuel or switch insurance companies!

“The concern that has been shared with us is that the decision to include these Iowa businesses pushes money out of our community and state, however, we look at it as driving money into our community and state.

“Also, we have Brandon residents that are employed at both of these establishments. These businesses are providing jobs for people who live in Brandon. Because of their jobs, these employees are able to live in Brandon.

“We have Chamber members who have Brandon businesses who do not live in Brandon. They may live in Sioux Falls or even out of state. With that in mind, we are excited to partner with any business that wants to invest in our Brandon Valley Area community. We wholeheartedly support all our Chamber member investors and encourage their success and mutual support of all our community efforts.”

We certainly recognize both sides of the discussion.

We recognize the importance of buying local, supporting our small businesses that support our schools, our recreational sports teams, community promotions and more.

As a small business ourselves, we are asked multiple times over the course of the year to donate goods and services and money.

We also recognize the value that these Iowa businesses see in investing their hard-earned dollars with the BVACC, whether it’s for a base membership or all the way up to the platinum membership level. And we wholeheartedly support their willingness to participate in all of the promotions that the Chamber organizes.

Ultimately, the decision on whether to taste test – one or all – of the entries in Brandon’s Burger Battle is up to you, the consumer. But in the end, all of those with a vested interest in “Building a Better Brandon” are the true winners, even when we step outside of the city borders.