This year the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance is once again asking people to buy local and give local throughout the holidays. The initiative, called Buy. Give. Grow. presented by GreenState Credit Union, puts a spotlight on local businesses and organizations for the next two months, encouraging shoppers and philanthropists to keep their dollars local.
“Studies generally agree that for every dollar spent at a locally owned small business with a physical location here, a whopping 73 cents gets recirculated in the local economy,” said Doug Neumann, executive director of the Economic Alliance. “Whereas, if you shop online or with a big chain store, most of that money flies right out of here and rarely returns.”
Buy. Give. Grow. spotlights 15 local businesses and non-profit organizations over the next two months as part of the buy local and give local messaging to the community.
A selection committee made up primarily of local businesspeople, reviewed about 90 applications, and chose these 15 businesses and non-profits to be featured on TV, radio, online, on billboards and on social media throughout the upcoming holiday season:
AirFX, Craft’d, Farm to Health Organics, Hands in Harmony, Newport Flowers by Roots in Bloom, Feed Iowa First, Fresh Start Ministries, His Hands Free Clinic, Olivet Neighborhood Mission, Willis Dady Homeless Services, CHOMP LLC, Covenant Family Solutions, Office Evolution, Valenta Plumbing and Winifred’s Catering
Over the next several weeks, residents will read, see and hear stories about these local businesses and non-profits, which play a significant role in our local economy and business community.
