Think, buy, be local: It’s sustainable! Participate in SIBA’s Buy Local Week

The push for creating local, more sustainable economies just keeps on growing nationally and in the Tampa Bay area.  The Sustainable Interconnected Business Alliance (SIBA) joined with the Pinellas County Commission in recognizing National Buy Local Week 2010.  The County Commission, led by Chair Karen Seel, proclaimed November 29th through December 6th Buy Local Week in Pinellas County.

The commission recognized SIBA’s current Local First campaign and the important role Local Independent and Sustainable Businesses play in strengthening the local economy, creating jobs, protecting the environment, and building vibrant healthy communities for everybody.

According to the county’s office of economic development, if Pinellas residents and businesses increase their local purchases by just 1 per cent (from the internet and non-Pinellas based businesses to ones based in Pinellas), that change has the potential of creating over 2800 new local jobs. The job effect is even greater if the businesses are locally owned and operated.  The same can be said of Hillsborough County, and so on where ever you work and live.

This article appears in Nov 25 – Dec 1, 2010.