About Think Local

A strong culture of buying locally is the foundation of a sustainable local economy - also known as a "living economy." So Seattle Good Business Network has created Think Local, a new program that hopes to have an open conversation with citizens, businesses, policy makers and the media about the personal, economic and community benefits of thinking local first.

Where will you see it?

2011 is the inaugural year for Think Local. Here's where you can expect to see it at work around town:

The Stranger: Every week in The Stranger we run a full page of Think Local photos of local, independent businesses owners, holding signs that say something about their unique contribution to our place.

In-store educational materials: Look for the orange "We're Local" decal in storefronts around town - when you see one, you can be sure that business is truly locally owned and independently operated. Posters and educational brochures help tell the story about why "local" matters.

Events: Keep an eye out for our Think Local Activity Booth at major Seattle-area events like the Family 4th on Lake Union and Bumbershoot. Button making, Think Local Trivia, and a Think Local Photo Booth are all part of the fun!

thinklocalseattle.org: This website includes information on why thinking local matters, plus a searchable online directory of all participating businesses. Eventually we hope this website will become an active place for contributions and discussion about why local matters, how to make it easier to buy locally, and ways to develop authentic relationships with local businesses.

We have lots of grand ideas about how to get the conversation going. And you probably have ideas too - we'd love to hear them!