News Details (Posted: November 15, 2005):

Lorain County Unchained!

Contact Information:

Teresa Gilles
984-6709

Full Description:

UNCHAINING FOR ONE DAY MEANS MILLIONS FOR LORAIN COUNTY (Lorain County, OH)—The Lorain County Main Street Consortium is urging the citizens of Lorain County to unchain themselves on November 19—to do any shopping on that day only at locally-owned independent businesses. Lorain County Unchained! is part of a national campaign of the American Business Alliance (AMIBA), American Unchained. “The Main Street organizations of Oberlin, Elyria, Wellington, Amherst, and Vermilion, and the Lorain Growth Corporation have banded together to reach every citizen of Lorain County to get them excited about participating in Lorain County Unchained and support our collective community through spending their hard-earned money where it will make a positive impact on the community. Hundreds of thousands of dollars enter our local economy on any given Saturday. But if we all do our shopping and dining out with only locally-owned businesses this year, a larger portion of those dollars will stay right here in Lorain County,” said Kate Reagan, Director of Main Street Elyria. “We also want to entice folks, while they’re taking part in Lorain County Unchained, to notice the better service, products and experience they’re likely to get from our great independent businesses,” stated Mike Eppley, Director of Main Street Wellington “Studies from small towns in Maine to sizeable cities like Austin, Texas found that locally-owned independent businesses create about three and a half times the local economic activity as chains do. A study released in 2004 looked at the local economic impact of 10 independent businesses and 10 chains in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago and found that the independents generate 70 percent more local economic impact per square foot than chain stores. They also found the local businesses to generate slightly more sales per square foot,” said American Independent Business Alliance director Jennifer Rockne. “It’s because home town businesses pay local employees, use the goods and services of other local independent businesses and give back to community institutions far more than chains.” said American Independent Business Alliance director Jennifer Rockne. “Local campaigns are occurring in communities of all sizes all over the country (to see a list of participating communities, visit http://amiba.net/contacts.php)­ and as advocates for independently-owned businesses Main Streets Wellington, Oberlin, Amherst, Vermilion and Elyria and the Lorain Growth Corporation hope that you will see the financial benefit shopping locally will have one Lorain County,” states Eppley, “We hope that you will think about this not only on November 19, but every day—and particularly with holiday shopping upon us.” “Visit those businesses that sponsor your softball league, donate to your church raffle or donate cocoa and cookies for your community tree lightings,” states Reagan, “I know you will be rewarded by quality products, customer loyalty and strong individual service.” Resources: Website of the American Independent Business Alliance: AMIBA.net www.oberlin.org www.mainstreetelyria.com www.mainstreetwellington.com www.mainstreetlorain.com www.mainstreetamherst.org