Building Powerful Local Economies

Lizz Harrell grew up in Arkansas, where she saw firsthand how big-box retailers drained life from downtowns and pushed out the small businesses that hold communities together.

Through college, she worked at locally owned coffee shops, restaurants, and bars - places that weren’t just businesses, but hubs of culture, connection, and resilience. No matter where she’s traveled, from El Dorado to Taiwan, Santa Fe to Sayulita, she’s sought out the heartbeat of local economies, knowing that thriving small businesses create thriving communities.

After years building successful startups in fintech, payments, e-commerce, and analytics, Lizz saw a problem: the winners continue to funnel money to the richest of society while dollars leave our local economies. 

She founded Merge Local to put power back where it belongs: in local economies. We're building the commerce, financial services, and logistics infrastructure that small businesses need to compete, win, and grow, while making it easier for local communities to buy local.

When local businesses thrive, entire communities rise with them.