The Fourth of July is more than celebrating the nation's independence for members of Local First Utah, a group of independent Utah business owners.

On Thursday, the organization unveiled its annual Independents' Week, a June 30-July 8 promotion to generate awareness and patronage at locally owned stores.

In the two years since the Local First Utah campaign started, the organization has grown from just a handful of companies to nearly 1,200 businesses as part of a network that also includes government entities and individuals, according to Betsy Burton, co-owner of the King's English Bookshops and chairwoman of Local First Utah.

Burton believes the skyrocketing interest in Local First Utah is due to a shift by the public away from big chain stores to small independent businesses.

"We've doubled in size over one year, and we've only been in operation for two years," Burton said. "There are studies that have been done all over the country, and they show that if you spend a dollar in a locally owned independent business, three times as much money that is generated stays in the community as when you spend that same dollar in a chain."

Two years ago, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson signed a proclamation designed to steer shoppers away from big-box retailers and into home-grown businesses.

Burton believes residents do a disservice to the community by shopping at chains.

"If somebody comes into my store and spends a dollar, that dollar goes to me, and I in turn spend it on attorneys, accountants, lawn-care people, doctors — you name it," Burton said. "It doesn't flow out of the state."

This year, Local First Utah has produced a new directory that profiles the state's locally owned businesses, profiling more than 1,100 businesses in 81 towns and cities in the state.

On Saturday, Local First Utah will launch its Independents' Week from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Farmers' Market in Pioneer Square, where there will be an ice cream eating contest sponsored by the Spotted Dog and other activities.

July 4 will feature a parade, carnival and 5K run in Magna on Main Street. On July 6-8, the Salt Lake International Jazz Festival will be held at Washington Square, where more than 100 local artists will perform. The week will conclude July 8 with a Sunday social at the Jordan Park International Peace Gardens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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E-mail: danderton@desnews.com