From: "Gay Nicholson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi folks,
Please join us for the launch of this year's Buy Local campaign, and our collective next step in sustaining our local economy. Gay Local First Ithaca forms, announces 2008 Holiday Campaign Holiday promotional campaign will launch Ithaca areas first on-going buy local initiative in support of local business and a living economy. Facing tough economic times, over 40 independent local retailers have joined effort to promote and celebrate Ithacas unique businesses. Cinemapolis to show film Independent America for season opening event! Newly-formed Local First Ithaca is proud to announce the beginning of the 2008 Local First Ithaca Holiday Celebration! This seven week campaign of fun and engaging events will encourage and challenge the community to spend their holiday dollars locally. Supporting local businesses and invigorating our local economy is more important than ever in these economically challenging times. The Holiday Campaigns kick-off event will be the Ithaca premiere of the film Independent America: the Two-Lane Search for Mom and Pop at Cinemapolis on Monday, November 17. Independent America follows two filmmakers as they travel the nations backroads, seeking out small, independent businesses that are undauntedly resisting the big- boxification of America. The film will inspire viewers from all walks of life to think about how they spend their money. Cinemapolis will hold two showings of the film, at 5:00 and 7:00 pm. The suggested donation of $8.50 will support both 7th Art Cinema Ithacas local, independent movie theatersand Local First Ithaca. Other events in the Holiday Celebration include a month-long Local Lover Challenge contest, a local music and food event, a festive Shop Local Night, and an array of events hosted by the individual participating businesses. Ithaca Mayor Carolyn Peterson will make a proclamation during National Buy Local Week, the first week of December. A calendar and details of events will be available at www.localfirstithaca.org beginning November 20. Local First Ithacas inaugural campaign builds on past efforts, particularly last years Shop Green Holiday Passport. Business owner Autumn Newell, who developed the Green Passport and is one of the coordinators of this years campaign says, I am so excited to see this grow and evolve! We have more than four times as many businesses involved this year, and I think the impact will be great. Spending our money locally has much wider economic effects than we realize, says co-organizer Jan Norman, long-time Ithaca business owner. For us, this holiday campaign is just the beginning of the creation of a business network that will be working to build a local, living economy. For example, a 2007 study showed that if San Francisco residents shifted just 10% of their spending from national chains to locally- owned businesses, it would annually create 1,300 new jobs and nearly $200 million in economic activity in their community. Thats really meaningful, people-centered economic development, says fellow Local First Ithaca organizer Leslie Ackerman, of Alternatives Federal Credit Union. It doesnt take millions in tax subsidies or complicated legislation. It just takes citizens, banding together to build and support their community. Thats what were trying to do, says co-organizer Kelly Moreland, owner of Mama Goose. The Local First concept puts people and vibrant communities first. Participating Businesses include: 15 Steps 3D Light American Crafts by Robbie Dein Autumn Leaves Avanti Benjamin Peters Bishops Bookery 1 Bookery 2 Cobblers Cottage Darias Boutique Diaspora Evolution 102 Finger Lakes Running Company Gimme Coffee GreenStar Habitat of Ithaca Handwork The Holiday Store Home Green Home Homegrown Homespun Boutique Ithaca Feed and Grain Ithaca Guitar Works Ithaca Paint & Decorating Ithacas Glass The Jewelbox Jillians Drawers The Kitchen Sink Loose Threads Linda Myers Design Mama Goose Mansour Jewelers Morris Too Now Youre Cooking No Radio Records Pastimes Petrune Quilters Corner Red Feet Wines Shalimar Silk Oak Small World Music Sparrows Fine Wines T-Shirt Express Tuff Soul Unique World Volume Records. ---------------------------------------------------- Gay Nicholson, Ph.D. 607-533-7312 (home office) 607-279-6618 (cell) 1 Maple Avenue Lansing, NY 14882 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sustainable Tompkins Program Coordinator www.sustainabletompkins.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Earn your permaculture design certificate. The Finger Lakes Permaculture Institute offers affordable local classes. http://www.fingerlakespermaculture.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - _______________________________________________ fingerlakespermaculture@lists.mutualaid.org listserv RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information: http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/fingerlakespermaculture Support the list host by donating to: http://www.mutualaid.org
