Live Local, a committee of the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce, is launching an educational campaign encouraging people to support neighborhood businesses that may be struggling financially because of the coronavirus.
“This isn’t going to be over for [small businesses] in a month,” said MaryBeth Shapiro, a founding Live Local committee member. “That’s why we’re encouraging people to think before they spend money outside the community.”
The group’s first initiative is to blanket the neighborhood with Live Local East Dallas yard signs as a visual reminder to support local businesses. Signs are $10 and will be delivered to homes or businesses. They can be purchased here.
Social media challenges will follow to raise awareness and keep neighbors engaged.
In the meantime, here are four ways Live Local encourages neighbors to support small businesses.
Live It: Choose to do as much business locally as possible. That includes banking, shopping, eating, real estate, hair, nails, legal services and entertainment. If you can, take the 20 percent challenge. If you use local sources for 30 percent of your services, try to increase that to 50 percent.
Invite others: Remind your friends to shop local and suggest businesses whenever possible.
Volunteer: Help with the campaign by selling signs or joining the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce Live Local committee.
Educate: Tell your friends and neighbors about how Live Local can help the community. Display a yard sign and tell local businesses about the movement.
Live Local was founded in 2009 by a group of local business owners and community members who gathered together to strategize how they could encourage neighbors to shop locally. The organization merged with the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce in 2015.
