Local First Group Seeks to Keep Dollars in Lansing's Economy

The Capital Area Local First group is revitalizing the Capital region’s fervor for buying all things local, a movement that is helping keep local dollars at home.

According to excerpts from the article:

There is a simple idea behind a Local First drive. One dollar, spent locally, may end up in two, three, four or more nearby tills, enriching local coffers like a magic bean until somebody drops it at Wal-Mart, blows it on a Bloomin’ Onion at Outback Steakhouse or mails it off in a mortgage check to Countrywide.

Capital Area Local First follows similar movements in forward-thinking metro areas like Austin, Texas, San Francisco and Grand Rapids. The Lansing group was officially formed two years ago, with fits and starts going back to 2002, but it has been slow going. Getting busy local businessmen to agree, cooperate or find time to volunteer is not easy.

Now the group is beginning to feel its oats. Local First stickers are proliferating in windows and doors of locally owned businesses. There are plans for cross-promotions, a discount coupon book and ad campaigns hammering on the virtues of buying local.

Read the entire article here.