Businesses of all sizes can add to the standard of living and or the quality of life in the communities where they do business. They often accomplished this by paying taxes to the governing body of these communities and by their interactions within the communities. Some communities with a good business base have the potential to alleviate much of the tax burden on the local homeowners and can also enhance the number of community offerings in the form of parks, recreation and relaxation.
Since 1946 Target has given 5% of it’s’ income to support and enrich the communities they serve. Today that equals more than three million dollars every week to support education, arts, social services and volunteerism. (Tar10) Chevron’s three primary focus areas for community investments are improving access to basic human needs, enabling education and training opportunities, and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Each element helps contribute to socioeconomic progress. In 2009, Chevron invested $144 million in our global partnerships and programs: 48 percent in North America; 20 percent in Africa; 14 percent in Asia-Pacific; 14 percent in Eurasia, Europe and the Middle East; and 4 percent in Latin America. (Che10) These are large corporations with a great deal of assets and people to devote to increasing the quality of life in the communities they serve but it is possible on any level.
Each business added to a community pays taxes to the local government. If the business has employees they also pay local taxes and frequent other local businesses. These tax dollars can be used to support local community gatherings such as a “movie night” or a concert in the park or a community parade. These same tax dollars can be used to maintain existing infrastructure like the local parks, bike paths or community pools. Living in a community with well maintained parks community gatherings or areas for relaxations and contemplation will most certainly offer a level of “quality of life”.
Homeowners are heavily burdened with taxes to cover and support local government needs and public institutions like schools and the like. Having local businesses in the community go a long way towards diminishing some of those cost and expenses. Being able to save some money on taxes will enhance their standard of living by allowing them to keep more money for other avenues of pleasure be it saving or splurging on an expensive night out on the town. Having businesses locally can also increase your opportunities for finding work within your area and minimizing the cost of getting to and from work which again saves you money for other things.
While quality of life and standard of living are both subjective in their precise definition for each and every person I think there are basic understandings and expectations of each term. For standard of living we all want to be able to believe there is a potential or opportunity to gain and be able to increase what we currently have or attain what we are hoping to have. Being able to save money on taxes or find local employment goes a long way towards being able to achieve this. For Quality of life living in a community where you are safe, secure and can relax and recreate is the least we can expect and deserve. So I believe adding businesses to communities can provide a quality of life and a standard of living through their economic and social involvement in that community.

Che10 -About Us:Chevon . March 2008. February 2011 .
Tar10 - Target Community Objectives. June 2010. February 2011 .