Businesses Band Together to Buy Local Print E-mail

(Spokane, Wash.) – The Buy Local Campaign in Spokane, Washington is catching on with businesses, consumers and media. Greater Spokane Incorporated’s (the local Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council, called GSI for short) campaign to support businesses and services in the community is aimed at re-circulating tax dollars at home, keeping neighbors working, keeping the local economy strong, and promoting green, locally-sourced products.

Member and non-member companies participating in the campaign are living the Buy Local theme and spreading the message by displaying Buy Local banners, posters, window clings, and collateral, using the logo in their advertising efforts, and sharing the campaign with their clients. Other businesses have contributed donations worth thousands of dollars in advertising, collateral, and promotional materials.

Businesses owners are excited about the campaign, and are eager to participate in an effort to fight the effects of the recession locally. The Greater Spokane Buy Local campaign is different from others around the country because it’s open to locally-owned and national firms – both of whom employ local people and pay taxes. The campaign is free and open to anyone wishing to participate.

Dozens of businesses have jointed the effort so far, and some are already seeing positive outcomes of the campaign. Kelly Zent, Finance Manager for Simply Northwest, has stated that the Buy Local campaign directly boosted their business - “We have had a lot of individuals mention that the only reason they came in was the Buy Local sign on the door.” Duane Wilson of Contract Resource Group includes the buy local message in his job quotes and communicates how much economic impact his business has on the region. Diane Mangano, President of Kershaw’s, prints the logo on every label she puts on the company’s packages.

GSI Buy Local partners that have donated over $500 worth of services and products to this campaign include AmericanWest Bank, Clear Channel Spokane, Downtown Spokane Partnership, Emerald Outdoor Advertising, Finders Keepers, LeMaster Daniels, Let It Shine, Magner Sanborn Advertising and Brand Design, Mojo Reprographics, NBS Promos, Pacific Northwest Inlander, Radio Spokane, Ross Printing,

Signs for Success, Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living Magazine, Spokane Journal of Business, Spokane Metro Magazine, and The Spokesman Review.

Participating partners and contributors to the campaign also include Altek, Angus Meats, Bold Eats, BizfinderNW.com, Coffman Engineers, Corner Booth Productions, Contract Resource Group, Design Events, Design Queue, Design Source, Devries Incorporated, Dry Fly Distillery, Humanix, Instant Sign Factory, Kershaws, MW Consulting Engineers, Neighborhood Business Centers Program, Northwest Insurance Brokers, Nosey Parker, Numerica Credit Union, Piper Design Co., Presentations Solutions, Provisional Staffing, Rings & Things Wholesale, Signs for Success, Simply Northwest, Spokane Public Radio, Spokane Real Estate Voice, Sudden Values, The Garland Theater, and TinMan Gallery.

For more information visit our web site at www.greaterspokane.org.

About Greater Spokane Incorporated

Greater Spokane Incorporated is committed to accelerating regional economic prosperity throughout the Spokane region. Your Regional Chamber and EDC, GSI is funded by more than 1500 private-sector member investors; Washington State; Spokane County; and the cities of Spokane; Spokane Valley; Liberty Lake; Cheney; Airway Heights; Medical Lake; Newport and Millwood. For more information, visit www.greaterspokane.org or contact us at 509-624-1393 or 1-800-SPOKANE.

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