iCarabout.com

I was just recently tipped off to an amazing challenge coming up supporting all of our favorite local businesses here in Cleveland.

Interested?  I know, so was I!

I Buy NEO,  a program powered by COSE to support Northeast Ohio small businesses, has organized its 2nd annual “Buy Local Week” starting July 3 – 10, 2010.

For this week, Clevelanders are encouraged to purchase only from regional vendors.  In fact, you can take the “Buy Local

COSE | Cleveland, OH | iCarabout.com

Challenge” and pledge to spend $100 to NEO owned businesses by filling out a promise form on the ibuyneo.com website.  In return for taking the $100 challenge, participants will receive a Buy Local discount card they can use in the month of July saving them money at over 40 local attractions, restaurants, and events.

To pledge to the “Buy Local Challenge”, visit http://www.ibuyneo.com/buylocalchallenge.asp

If spending $100 isn’t in the cards for you, there are other ways you can help promote and support “Buy Local Week”.  You can just make sure your purchases are made from locally owned vendors that week, or you can also get a badge or widget from ibuyneo.com to post on your site. If you’re on twitter, you can also use this #buylocalneo hashtag.

I’m actually a huge fan of this “100 Ways to Buy Local” widget which lists ideas for purchases locally more often — so cute and clever!

Although I try to buy locally as much as I can, I love this effort because it really brings attention to our great Cleveland+ businesses right in our own backyards. Most of us would agree that we’d rather SUPPORT our city’s economy rather than chase potential businesses out of NEO.  I’m especially interested in bringing more regional vendors, companies and career opportunities to Downtown Cleveland — both to utilize empty space we already have and to encourage new construction and growth.

Here is some info from ibuyneo.com about “Buy Local Week”:

• -If everyone in Northeast Ohio redirects $100 to a locally owned business, the local economic impact would reach approximately $48 million, creating jobs and many other opportunities for the region.
• -Buy Local Week is an important initiative as it helps to level the playing field.  Small businesses often times do not have the marketing budgets and resources to compete with the big box retailers.  Buying from locally owned businesses creates jobs in the region and keeps our neighborhoods unique and thriving.

One last bit of information I’ll share is that on July 12th, COSE will announce how many millions of dollars were redirected to support NEO vendors.  This money will in turn go towards making Northeast Ohio and the surrounding area a more profitable and growing region.

So why not support this great effort and help out our city’s small businesses? There are many ways to contribute, even if you don’t have the extra money to spend!

What are your favorite local shops, restaurants and vendors in Cleveland?