Ed. Note:  Jill Robinson reports that business owners and interested community members in Walpole and surrounding towns are invited to attend a Monadnock Buy Local Information Session:

Monadnock Buy Local Information Session

Wednesday, April 14th 7:00 – 8:00pm

Walpole Town Hall

     Find out more about Monadnock Buy Local (MBL), how this initiative promotes locally-owned and independent businesses and why there is strength in numbers.  MBL is a network of locally-owned and independent businesses working together to build a strong local economy and a vibrant community. 

     This year's membership drive has begun and all locally-owned businesses that join before May 15, 2010 will be listed in the regional Monadnock Buy Local Directory.  In addition to the printed directory, MBL will promote the benefits of shopping locally through community events and promotions, provide members with networking opportunities and will market locally-owned businesses on MBL's website, blog and social media networks.

     MBL supports the 10% Shift which calls for individuals to spend more of their money locally and at independently owned businesses.  Not by spending more, but by redirecting just 10% of what is spent annually to these businesses.  Studies find that when money is spent locally, up to three times as much money stays local.  For more information, visit http://monadnocklocal.com or email monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.

     The 10% Shift is a New England-wide grassroots movement of citizens, businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits working to shift 10% or more of our annual budget from non-local businesses to locally owned and independent businesses. The 10% Shift website states that if the five million households of New England shifted 10% of their annual budget to local and independently owned businesses, New England would see extraordinary results:

·           Expanded Job Creation - Create 48,000 new jobs

·           Economic Growth - Generate over $5 billion of increased economic activity in New England

·           Entrepreneurial Ventures - Inspire the formation thousands of new entrepreneurial ventures

·           Environment Protected - Decrease thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions

·           Enhanced Communities - Revitalize local New England communities.