Buy local proposal making its way into city governments

The buy local movement is moving beyond just the residents of a community to make its way into local government, with a proposal by the village council of Dexter to keep funds with local merchants.

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On Monday night, the Dexter council discussed a resolution to affirm the village's commitment to purchasing goods from local merchants. Stating that for every dollar that is spent locally, about 80 percent is returned to the community, the council verbally reaffirmed its support of village businesses and will vote on the motion later this month.

Last week, the Ypsilanti City Council approved a motion agreeing to try to "maximize the creation of American jobs'' in the way it spends federal economic stimulus money. Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber said that city's resolution doesn't bind it to using only American-made products in construction or other projects, but the city "is going to make an effort to do this.''

The Dexter resolution is the result of a recent retreat in which council members reviewed the village's goals and objectives. One goal is to stimulate the local economy through the use of local vendors.

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