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‘Go Local’ push to launch in fall
Tuesday, 28 August 2012 - 12:53pm
“Dates haven’t been confirmed yet, but by all indications it looks like the project is going to be going ahead,” he noted.
The “Go Local” campaign was promoted at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Leisure Show back in the spring and was well-received, said Gillon, adding 65 businesses and 170 individuals so far have signed up for information on the program.
Gillon said the “Go Local” campaign is a business alliance, and not necessarily the same as ones which promote locally-grown foods, like “Go Local Food” and “The 100 Mile Diet.”
“We’re promoting ‘go local’ in the sense that it is a business alliance, and it’s for all businesses in Fort Frances, and ultimately the district, to promote businesses in the community and to develop and implement a rewards program,” he explained.
“So even if you have a store in Fort Frances and everything in your store is made in China, as far as we’re concerned, it’s still ‘Go Local.’
“It’s a local business, that’s how we coin it,” he stressed.
Gillon said arrangements have been made with the media to create a group marketing program, and the project has gone to tender.
It’s expected that a “Go Local” marketing campaign will be well underway before the Christmas season.
Project partners include the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, the local Business Improvement Association (BIA), the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market, Sunset Country Travel Association, Acadia Broadcasting, and the Fort Frances Times.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•accepted the June and July, 2012 Drinking Water Systems Monthly Summary Report;
•recommended that A. Anderson be contacted and informed that there will not be an adjustment to the outstanding charge of $349.97 for day-care services;
•recommended that L. Brown be contacted to explain modifications planned to address her concerns re: improving wheelchair access at the Memorial Sports Centre;
•approved a per diem claim for Coun. Sharon Tibbs in the amount of $75 (to attend the Rainy River District Municipal Association meeting Aug. 15 in Alberton);
•a travel and per diem claim for Coun. Ken Perry in the amount of $102 (to attend the Regional Economic Development Committee meeting July 24 in Emo); and
•heard an update on capital projects from the Operations and Facilities division.
By Duane Hicks, Staff writer
Local businesses will be urged to band together this fall and participate in a “Go Local” campaign to help keep consumer dollars here.
“We’re looking to begin the project in September, and hopefully have a project launch in the first couple weeks of October,” said Geoff Gillon, regional economic developer with the Rainy River Future Development Corp., who gave a quarterly activity report to town council last night.
The “Go Local” campaign was promoted at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce’s Home and Leisure Show back in the spring and was well-received, said Gillon, adding 65 businesses and 170 individuals so far have signed up for information on the program.
Gillon said the “Go Local” campaign is a business alliance, and not necessarily the same as ones which promote locally-grown foods, like “Go Local Food” and “The 100 Mile Diet.”
“We’re promoting ‘go local’ in the sense that it is a business alliance, and it’s for all businesses in Fort Frances, and ultimately the district, to promote businesses in the community and to develop and implement a rewards program,” he explained.
“So even if you have a store in Fort Frances and everything in your store is made in China, as far as we’re concerned, it’s still ‘Go Local.’
“It’s a local business, that’s how we coin it,” he stressed.
Gillon said arrangements have been made with the media to create a group marketing program, and the project has gone to tender.
It’s expected that a “Go Local” marketing campaign will be well underway before the Christmas season.
Project partners include the town’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, the local Business Improvement Association (BIA), the Clover Valley Farmers’ Market, Sunset Country Travel Association, Acadia Broadcasting, and the Fort Frances Times.
Also at last night’s meeting, council:
•accepted the June and July, 2012 Drinking Water Systems Monthly Summary Report;
•recommended that A. Anderson be contacted and informed that there will not be an adjustment to the outstanding charge of $349.97 for day-care services;
•recommended that L. Brown be contacted to explain modifications planned to address her concerns re: improving wheelchair access at the Memorial Sports Centre;
•approved a per diem claim for Coun. Sharon Tibbs in the amount of $75 (to attend the Rainy River District Municipal Association meeting Aug. 15 in Alberton);
•a travel and per diem claim for Coun. Ken Perry in the amount of $102 (to attend the Regional Economic Development Committee meeting July 24 in Emo); and
•heard an update on capital projects from the Operations and Facilities division.
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I would "Go Local" if....
My beef with the whole go local thing is that many businesses down Scott St. close at 5 or 6pm and are closed Sundays making it difficult to do any shopping in my free time. Another problem that absolutely baffles me is the hugh snow banks that accumulate in the winter which makes it hard for people to get to where they are going. I have never seen such a terrible sight as Scott St. in the winter!! The main street in International Falls is kept so neat and "snowbank free", why can't we do the same?!