MHBA Announces 2nd Annual Buy Local Week

With the economy dominating news and politics, and the market crisis impacting businesses everywhere, we are faced with an uncertain future and real challenges. Investments are literally disappearing off the books, and credit is scarce. We just don't have the money we need to keep our businesses going and to pay our bills. And with local businesses in our neighborhoods closing every day, we can't afford to wait for Washington to figure out a solution that will work for us.

So then what can we do?

We say that local businesses contribute to a stronger community. This isn't just flattery or nostalgia. When we spend our money at a local business, it recirculates in our local economy more often and more quickly than if we'd spent that money at a non-local business. In fact, it's six times more likely to return to us.

Now is the time for us to come together as a community and make choices that build our own local economy. Build relationships with more local business owners. Create solutions to the immediate problems we're facing and begin restrategizing our plans for the future.

It is because of the challenges we face and because of our faith in local business that we are excited to announce the 2nd annual Buy Local Week, November 28 - December 5. This week is traditionally the start of the holiday shopping season, and is the biggest sales period for retailers. This year, let's leverage this time to strengthen our relationships with local businesses.

We're launching an entire media campaign to promote Buy Local Week, and there are several ways to get involved. Here are just a few:

• If you haven't already, join the Mile High Business Alliance as a business or individual now (http://www.milehighbiz.org/membership)
• Help spread the word by sending a Buy Local Week press release to your network and colleagues
• Become an underwriter of the campaign. Every dollar you provide we can leverage ten more times in media placements and exposure for Colorado Local First. (find out more at http://www.coloradolocalfirst.com/sponsorship)