Shopping local doesn't have to be a hardship for communities. In fact, in a seminar this Tuesday, April 23, local business leaders and consumers can find out how to "shift" 10% of their purchasing to local businesses to make the community stronger.
This free event will be held Tuesday, April 23, from 7-9 a.m. in the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody.
The presenter is CUPE BC president Barry O'Neil and the event is sponsored by the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce, the city of Port Moody and Scotiabank.
The Shift campaign was developed following CUPE BC President Barry O'Neill's tour of more than 30 resource-dependent and rural communities in 2009-2010.
At the time, O'Neill met with Chambers of Commerce, local elected officials, union members and held public town halls to hear from residents about their local economies. Following the tour, O'Neill researched Local First programs in other jurisdictions and met with activists and academics working to improve local economies.
According to O'Neill, the research shows that the longer a dollar circulates in the local economy, the more economic activity and spin-off employment it creates.
That research is what led to the Ten Percent Shift campaign. Based on a similar campaign in New England, the Shift asks people to simply shift 10 percent of their household spending to local stores
When local stores are kept in business, it not only keeps jobs in town, but the money spent in a local small business usually stays in town.
Register for this presentation here.For a checklist on things you can do, look here
