In the two years since it started, the Mile High Business Alliance has taken a real leap forward in its quest to promote local businesses and educate the community to their importance. The ambitious Colorado Local First website, which offers year-round information about member merchants, now features a shopping guide that complements the organizations annual Buy Local Week festivities, with entries from 45 participating businesses. In that guide (which has also been printed as a brochure), youll find everything from Buy Local Week in-store discounts to news of special events, including member holiday sales and open houses.
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As people become more aware of the fact that where we spend our money really matters, I think well see more community members patronizing independent neighborhood business owners, says MHBA director Mickki Langston. Thats the goal of tonights Buy Local Week Kickoff Event at Swallow Hill Music Hall, 71 East Yale Avenue, a party thats both a networking shmoozer/fundraiser and an evening of stellar entertainment, with a concert by Denver favorites Cliff Eberhardt and Chris Daniels. The all-local festivities will include eats by Avenue Grill, drinks by Great Divide and Oogave, and cupcakes courtesy of Mulberries; a live auction will offer up such prizes as a shiny new cruiser bike and a stay at the Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast.
This could be the start of something beautiful: In the coming year, Langston says, the nonprofit hopes to initiate more programs that address the real issues of local businesses. By helping them to adapt and by addressing their business needs, we can in turn have more healthy businesses doing all the things they do to help create a more resilient local economy.
The merrymaking begins today at 6:30 p.m., and admission is free; tickets for the optional concert are $17 and can be purchased through the Swallow Hill box office, 303-777-1003, or online at www.swallowhill.com. Get a copy of the shopping guide and other details at www.coloradolocalfirst.com/buylocalweek.
Sat., Nov. 28, 6:30-10:15 p.m., 2009