MHBA Newsletter - October & November 2008

Submitted by Mickki Langston on Sat, 01/17/2009 - 3:36pm

Newsletter

Do good and get a free t-shirt
Want to support the Eastside Cannery Project? Make a donation now of $25 or more and receive a free Locavore t-shirt from our Colorado Local First campaign.

Get Involved Now
We're now accepting underwriters for the 2009 Colorado Local First campaign. Find out more in our campaign packet, and contact us at 303-872-5646 to become a leader in supporting local first.

Upcoming Events
Please join us for one of our upcoming events, and view even more local happenings on our calendar.

Local Biz Coffee Meeting
Come connect with local business owners and enjoy some fresh brew at our coffee meeting.
Tues., Nov. 18th 8:00 - 9:30 am
The Red Trolley

The Angel Capital Summit
Hosted by the Rockies Venture Club, the Angel Capital Summit (ACS) provides the best forum between San Francisco and Chicago for investors and entrepreneurs to find each other.
Fri., Nov 21st 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Find out more & register now

Inventing Business Series
Open space event for dialogue about what's next for business
Mon., Jan 19th 5:30 - 8:30 pm
MHBA Offices

Creative Space Agent will be a free Web portal designed to advertise space to Denver’s space-starved creative community. When fully operational, the site will allow creative businesses, artists and arts organizations to search for and promote available performance, rehearsal, studio, business and housing space that meet their unique needs. The site is currently under development. Stay up-to-date about the status of the project by registering at www.creativespaceagent.org.

In preparation for the launch of the Creative Space Agent, Denver's Office of Cultural Affairs is hosting a free workshop entitled, "Read the Fine Print: Avoiding Pitfalls and Perplexity in Commercial Leases," presented by the Colorado Lawyers for the Arts (CoLA). The event will be hosted at MHBA member Hooked on Colfax (on Colfax & Steele) on Tuesday December 9th, from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Find out more and register.

Mile High Biz Blog
The best way to stay up to date on MHBA and other local business news is through our blog. Take a look at some of the recent blog posts:
Eastside Food Collective & Cannery Project
Ownership in the Food Industry
Where we spend money really does matter
What can communities do to come out of the economic crisis?
10 Tips for Starting an Economic Gardening Project

Founding Members
The following businesses came together in 2007/2008 to create the Mile High Business Alliance.

Hello members, friends and partners of the Mile High Business Alliance! I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the changing of the seasons. The leaves aren't the only thing changing right now. We're all aware that the US economy is in trouble. Consumer spending is down 3.1%, for the first time since 1991. This makes it challenging for all of us, most especially our local businesses who are already working hard to compete against much larger companies.

Now is the time for us to work together as a community to strengthen our local economy. Where we spend our money has an impact far beyond just the initial transaction. 600% more of the money we spend at local businesses recirculates in our own region, making it six times more likely to come back to you. This is why we're promoting Buy Local Week November 28th - December 5th. This newsletter has more information about Buy Local Week and how you can get involved now.

Get Involved in Buy Local Week
November 28 - December 5
Buy Local Week is all about raising awareness that where we spend money really does matter. Join with over one hundred local businesses this season and make a positive impact in our community. Find out more about the various components of Buy Local Week (including RTD ads, posters, window clings and more) and get involved in ways to strengthen our local economy. Here are just a few ways:

If you haven't already, join the Mile High Business Alliance as a company or individual. As a grassroots, membership based organization, this is the primary way for us to gather the resources we need to accomplish our mission of building better community through better business. Membership starts at just $150 per year for businesses. Find out more and join today.
Spread the word about Buy Local Week to your friends, family and colleagues. Help us get more media attention and build participation.
Use your voice to share what you like about our local businesses. Post reviews on the Colorado Local First directory.
During this time, money is more scarce. Spend wisely and make a positive impact by buying from local businesses. (use the directory to find the things you need)
Get connected to local business owners and others through one of our upcoming events. Engage in conversations about how we can work together to have the kind of community we enjoy living in.

Our community does not have to fall victim to the economic challenges we're facing. We do not have to lose the coffee houses, neighborhood cafes and one-of-a-kind stores that make Denver unique, that employ us and our neighbors, that pay taxes needed for community services. Spread the word.

Colorado Local First Member Materials On the Way

keep your eye out over the next two weeks
One of the benefits of membership in MHBA are the posters, counter cards, window decals and other materials that identify your business as locally owned. Our media campaign is leveraging print and radio, but promoting Colorado Local First at your place of business is a vital way to spread the message of local first. During the next two weeks, we'll be delivering Colorado Local First materials to our members, as well as recruiting other businesses to get involved. Take a look at the materials online, and get involved now. By working together, we can ensure the Colorado Local First campaign has a real impact.

MHBA Teams with Solar for Eastside Cannery Project
Jars

We're very excited to announce the East Side Cannery, a project formed in conjunction with business alliance member SOLAR, and with support from the Denver Foundation's Strengthening Neighborhoods Project. (read more about how the project works)

This project supports our community in several fundamental ways, including:

using precious resources that would otherwise go to waste
making important skills available to more people
deepening the relationships between the people who grow our food and the rest of us
bringing together neighbors to work on a project that is mutually beneficial

If you want to get involved, contact Faatma from SOLAR at 720-212-3026. The first farm gleaning team will visit Grant Family Farms on Saturday November 1st, and canning will begin on Monday. Kate's Restaurant on 35th has graciously made their kitchen available for canning.

Special thanks to the Denver Foundation's Strengthening Neighborhoods program for helping to make this happen!

There will be challenges ahead for local businesses and, therefore, the rest of us. Please get involved now, so we can proactively create solutions that ensure a healthy local economy. Happy Halloween!

In community,

~Mickki Langston