If you haven’t finished shopping for everyone on your Christmas list, and you think you’ve exhausted the possibilities at every store in town, let us suggest one more thing.

Keep your money in our region by visiting the Made in Minnesota Gift Guide at www.mn2020.org/giftguide. Operated by the nonprofit think tank Minnesota 2020, the guide allows you to browse for items ranging from jewelry and clothing to crafts, food, drink and more.

We spent just a few minutes on the Made in Minnesota Gift Guide website and found several locally owned businesses that make and sell high-quality items.

We typed in “Hutchinson” in the website’s search and came up with the Clay Coyote, known for its handmade pottery, vases and more. Then we typed in “Dassel” and came up with Robert Wilde Studios and Gallery, which sells artwork by 28 different small-town artists in central Minnesota. For Willmar, we found M. B. Chocolatier, known for its handmade chocolates, and Make Mine Wool, which makes one-of-a-kind pin cushions. For Waconia, we discovered SunLeaf Naturals, which handmade pure soaps, candles and diffusers using fine ingredients found only in nature.

We normally don’t mention specific businesses in our editorials, but our point here today is that these businesses produce and sell items you generally can’t find anywhere else, and they benefit the community deeply. That’s because each of these merchants or manufacturers is independently owned.

According to the Andersonville Study of Retail Economics, buying locally from independent retailers keeps 68 cents of the consumer dollar at home, working in our communities, while only 43 cents stay behind on each dollar spent at chain stores not headquartered in the state.

The benefit to local communities is even greater for select industries. Last year’s Minnesota 2020 report, “Homegrown Holidays,” which looked at growth opportunities for the state’s apple, wine and beer industries, showed that more than 90 cents of the consumer’s dollar can be kept at home, multiplying in value as it ripples through the economy, and generating more business for local suppliers.

This year’s Minnesota 2020 report examines strategies for growing sustainable small businesses. Released in November, the report shows that small businesses have been a main driver in the recent sustainability movement. “Locally owned and ecologically conscious businesses provide a basis for community development, social responsibility and environmental legislation,” writes the report’s author, Lee Egerstrom.

Want to learn more? Visit www.mn2020.org and you’ll discover Minnesota is brimming with all kinds of sustainability success stories at small and medium-sized enterprises.

And be sure to check out the gift guide as well as the Leader’s Nov. 24 gift guide, Holiday Extra!, if you have shopping left. You might be surprised by all the great products made in Minnesota. If you purchase an item, you’ll not only help strengthen the state’s economy, you’ll also help improve our quality of life.

(Editorials are written by Publisher Matt McMillan and Editor Doug Hanneman. They can be reached at mcmillan@hutchinsonleader.com, or hanneman@hutchinsonleader.com.)