New organization focuses on local economy

By Jamie Gentner
Siskiyou Daily News

McCloud, Calif. -

When shoppers take to stores this Friday – Black Friday, one of the biggest shopping days of the year – a new organization hopes residents consider patronizing local shops first.

That’s when McCloud’s new McCloud Local First organization will launch its “Shop Local First” campaign.

McCloud Local First was formed after a group of McCloud residents concerned with building the strength of the local economy attended a Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) conference. The event, hosted by the national nonprofit organization, educated attendees about “local first” work taking place around the United States.

In spring 2008, local organizers began meeting with representatives from the Jefferson Economic Development Institute to form a plan.

In January 2009, a steering committee was formed to develop the mission of the group and get the ball rolling for the group’s formation. Members adopted the Shasta Energy Group’s bi-laws and received 501(c)3 nonprofit status in May.

On Nov. 4, the first members of the board of directors were elected, and now they will work toward promoting the local economy, with their first public appearance at the Dog and Pony show in McCloud on Nov. 28.

“We want to support locally-owned and controlled businesses, as they are the backbone of our economy,” said Robin Singler, manager of the “Shop Local First” marketing campaign and vice chair of the original steering committee. “We want to support who is here, help new businesses come in that make sense in the long term – things that fit in without robbing McCloud of its uniqueness – and instill a sense of pride in McCloud.”

Singler said the group sees the need to promote locally-owned businesses for several reasons:

• They don’t move out of town and leave the local economy hanging;
• They donate to local groups and organizations; and
• Supporting local businesses means supporting friends and neighbors.

McCloud Local First is a member organization that individuals and business owners may join. Those members help guide the organization’s efforts.

Businesses who join the network are offered business counseling with a representative from the Siskiyou Small Business Development Council once a month.

They also participate in projects that benefit the community. Right now, several working groups have been formed to focus on different projects.

The McClellan family formed a focus group that put together a McCloud Farmers Market. The market was open every Saturday over the summer and allowed locals to sell their locally-grown food.

The McCloud Branding work group is “bringing the community together to create a community vision that speaks to McCloud’s history and what we want to be in the future,” Singler said. The group will organize local events, likely starting in 2010, that will allow residents to talk about the town’s history and see how everyone can help McCloud prosper in the future.

Other work groups are exploring how to bring renewable energy projects into town, improve tourism to attract more visitors and develop bike and walking trails.

The Think Local First work group is behind the “Shop Local First” marketing campaign.

“The goal is to educate the public about why it is important to support local businesses and how their buying decisions impact our community,” Singler said. “We know you can’t buy everything in McCloud, but our point is: When you can, support McCloud.”

In order to entice residents to visit local shops first this holiday season, the McCloud Local First organization is offering a few incentives.

From this Friday through Christmas day, residents – whether from McCloud or elsewhere in Siskiyou County – who visit McCloud Basin businesses should save their receipts. That includes retail, contractor and service businesses.

At the end of that period, the receipts, or copies of the receipts, should be sent to McCloud Local First for a chance at one of two prizes, both valued at $350:

• “Big Spender” Prize – Awarded to the person who spends the most money at McCloud businesses, this package includes two adult day lift tickets for the Mt. Shasta Ski Park, two Learn to Ski packages at the ski park and a one-night stay for two at Charming Victorian Cotttages, with a $25 discount on a second night’s stay.
• “Shop Around” Prize – The person who spends money at the largest number of businesses will be awarded 18 holes of golf for two (including cart rental) at the McCloud Golf Resort, one free breakfast or lunch at the McCloud Cafe and a one-night stay for two in a suite at the McCloud River Mercantile Hotel (breakfast included).

While supplies last, shoppers who visit businesses in the McCloud Local First network and spend $25 or more will receive a reusable shopping bag. The bags, which feature a Christmas design, were designed by a local and sewn by a local seamstress.

The promotions are good for both customers and businesses, Singler said.

Customers can save money on products and gas, save time and support local business that create more jobs and donate their time and money to local service groups.
Businesses get exposure and a little piece of mind from the organization.

“What we want to do is do a lot of the work for the business – organize the campaign, provide them with the materials – so the business owners don’t have to,” Singler said. “We want to make it as easy as possible for the owners to stay open and focus on the business and let us focus on this other work.”

And Singler hopes that people will soon realize the benefit of having an organization that focuses on strengthening the local assets.

“It’s important to show people we can help ourselves. We can locally create our own wealth. We don’t have to rely on some outside force to come in and save us,” Singler said. “With a town of locally-controlled businesses, you’re a little more insulated from outside factors. It makes you more resilient, strong and self sufficient, more stable and less likely to collapse ... Working together to build our future is the only way we will build a sustainable future.”

For more information about McCloud Local First or “Shop Local First,” call 964-3423 or visit www.mccloudlocalfirst.org.