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Treasurer Beth Pearce Reminds Vermonters to Think Local First

November 20, 2017

Burlington, VT – Local First Vermont hosted a press conference Monday November 11th at the Savoy Theatre in Montpelier at 1:30pm to promote Shop Small Saturday, as well as to announce an upcoming program with SunCommon. State Treasurer Beth Pearce was in attendance, as well as representatives from Local First Vermont, SunCommon, and the Vermont business community to share statements on the impact that buying locally has on our state economy. Vermont residents who contact SunCommon for a solar assessment this November can activate all 250+ coupons on Local First Vermont’s Buy Local mobile app for free!  

Shop Small Saturday is a nationwide movement fueled by shoppers who support vibrant local communities. Shop Small Saturday is celebrated every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day. “We encourage Vermonters to get out and support locally owned & independent Vermont retailers this Saturday November 25th,” said Samantha Sheehan, the Local First Vermont program manager of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). “Independent Vermont businesses are critical to developing a vibrant and resilient state economy. We know that for every dollar you spend with a locally owned business, .45 cents is re-invested into your community, which is .30 cents more than is invested by name-brand chain retailers,” says Samantha Sheehan, the Local First Vermont program manager. 

On September 1st 2017 Local First Vermont released the 8th edition of the Buy Local Book & Mobile App, which contain over $3,000 in coupons to over 250 locally owned & independent Vermont businesses in nine different Vermont counties. The print version of the book retails for $20 and is available at over 50 retailers around the state – and the mobile app is free to download from Google Play & iTunes and costs $20 to activate the coupons. 

As a Champion Member of VBSR, SunCommon is excited to collaborate for this Shop Small Saturday promotion. “SunCommon was proudly born and raised in Vermont - and we depend on dozens of our fellow Vermont businesses to keep ours running and performing,” said Duane Peterson, co-president of SunCommon.  To highlight the importance of local, do-gooder business, SunCommon is giving away the Local First Vermont Buy Local app (or coupon book) to any Vermonter who checks out solar with them- by booking their solar home visit - over the coming weeks. SunCommon is a Vermont owned company and the largest provider of home and community solar in the state. 

Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce and the State Treasurer’s office support buying local, understanding that investing locally increases economic development activity and creates jobs. In partnership with the Local Investment Advisory Committee they have committed up to 10% of the State’s average available cash in local investments. To date, over $33 million has been obligated.

Local First Vermont is a program of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR), our mission is to preserve and enhance the economic, human, and natural vitality of Vermont communities by promoting the importance of purchasing from locally owned independent businesses. SunCommon is a Champion Member of VBSR and a certified B Corp.