Corner Drugstore by Orin Zebest
The 3/50 Project is a project which emphasizes supporting local business, something we all need to do for a green community.
It’s about keeping money in your local community and it’s about commitment through one simple action.
Here’s What You Do
#1 – Choose 3 local brick and mortar businesses to support. These should be locally owned and not franchises.
#2 – Each month decide which ONE of the 3 businesses you’d like to spend with. Spend a total of $50 at ONE of these businesses.
#3 – That’s all that is involved. Over the year you are committing to spend $600 total with locally owned non-franchise businesses.
Why Support Local Business
According to The 3/50 Project website “For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores $68 returns to the community.”
I like that this project reminds us about supporting local business without telling us to stop shopping online or to change our other shopping habits.
Whom are You Supporting?
Put your thinking cap on. Are you going to do this? What questions do you have about it? If you’re looking for a good definition of which businesses qualify you can find it at The 3/50 Project – What’s an Independent
Unless you just happen to be supporting local businesses already, though maybe not with a specific commitment, you’re going to have to do some research.
Do let me know what you find out and the businesses you decide to support. I’m still working on my list.
You can support your local bookstore and have the convenience of shopping online by visiting IndieBound.org.
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I definitely support my local independent coffee house in town. Between my husband and me, I’m pretty sure we spend about $50 a month there (they have great food).
We also are very supportive of local, independent restaurants – especially ones that make it a point to support our local farmers.
I like this 3/50 project. It is important to support local. Very important.
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Such a great idea! It is nice sometimes to put a concrete goal on some of these things that you know are worthwhile, so that you can measure that you have changed something (as opposed to thinking ‘I should shop locally more often’ and then doing it for a week before you forget).
Robin, I know you are a great advocate for local businesses. Thanks for the great work you do to inspire.
Catherine, I agree with you, it’s hard to change habits and a simple, concrete goal like this really helps.
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We do most of our shopping locally; we even walk to most of the stores. It’s great getting to know the people you buy from.
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