When you're the only town in the county, it may be hard for local businesses to keep prices low. Communities like Hayes Center try to do just that, but it's not always easy.
Stores in bigger cities like Mccook and North Platte have more competition within city limits, allowing prices to fluctuate. Hayes Center businesses can't do that but work closely together to be able to give quality product for an affordable price.
"We have prices here that are as good as Mccook sometimes and not only that, the gas it takes to drive there to get that is an expense if you get out of county to shop," said Hayes County Clerk Sue Messersmith. "So I think they struggle, they really try hard to maintain the prices as low as they can."
"I think if you factor in the price of fuel you're probably ok, you know it all depends on how much time you have to get groceries and how much you want to spend to drive," said Hayes Center business owner Connie Brott. "The amount of distance you have to go when you can get what you need locally right here locally and that's really nice."
Businesses like H. C. Mercantile also try to sell goods from community members or order products made in Nebraska as a GROW Nebraska store.
