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Donation from Farmers Market Part of Larger Strategy to “Think Local First”

By October 15, 2013eNews

By Leanne Huebner (October 15, 2013)

As autumn arrives, so does the availability of amazing produce like organic apples, squash and the best oranges this side of the Mississippi. This produce and so much more can be found every Tuesday at the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market from 11 to 4.

The Downtown Manhattan Beach Business Association (DMBBA), the group that owns and operates the market, is a $10,000 MBEF Business Sponsor, supporting our schools through a portion of Farmers Market proceeds.

farmers

Citrus at the Manhattan Beach Farmers Market every Tuesday.

The Association isn’t stopping there.  It is the mission of Trilogy Spa owner and DMBBA President, Chandra Shaw, to promote a “Shop MB” campaign to benefit our entire community.  The Association is trying to increase purchases made at all local businesses in Manhattan Beach, from the Manhattan Village Mall to the Sepulveda corridor to El Porto and Downtown.

“If we are able to shift just ten percent of our residents’ purchases from online or out-of-town sales to our local Manhattan Beach businesses, we could potentially generate millions more in local revenues over time,” shares Ms. Shaw.

And the research supports Chandra’s strategy.  Multiple research studies conducted in cities across the U.S. conclude that supporting local businesses generates increased revenue, more jobs, and higher community donations.  For instance, one study conducted in Salt Lake City concluded that local retailers returned 52% of their revenue to the local economy, which represented over three times the amount their peer national chain retailers returned.

How?   Brush off that Economics 101 textbook.  Local purchases recirculate within the community in the form of wages, goods and services purchased locally, profits and donations.   In return, cities generate more local tax dollars to spend to improve their cities.

Here’s another nine reasons to back your local companies.

The Association plans to implement more educational programs in our community to promote the campaign.  “Kids twenty years ago didn’t understand the value and importance of recycling.  Today they wouldn’t dream of throwing away a glass bottle,” says Chandra. “In the same way kids should be introduced to the importance of thinking local.

So take that Tuesday afternoon off, stroll over to 13th Street and Morningside and grab that kumquat. We will all be better off because of it.

To learn more or get involved, click here.

Photo credit with permission:  Tamara Suminski

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