‘Keep Local Alive Tucson’ helps support small businesses

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – As small businesses continue to face financial difficulties; many are closing their doors forever, and a movement is gaining momentum in Tucson. “Keep Local Alive” helps to divert funds to ailing facilities.

“It was a real challenge to be closed for three months,” said Julie Penny, owner of Piece by Piece Wear at St. Philip’s Plaza. “I had to figure out how to pay the rent, so I posted pictures on social media and said, ‘I’ll take this to your front door,’ and I ran around town delivering things. There was a month we were down 89%. So this has been a tough month. But the holidays have finally arrived and we remain hopeful. “

Penny believes in supporting local designers. She has several handcrafted unique items in her boutique.

“This month is our 31st anniversary,” said Penny.

To keep their business open for years to come, the community must share the same value when buying locally.

So she was excited to meet Bobby Johnson, who stopped by her store Tuesday night to talk about the Move 20 Save Local initiative he helped start.

“It does this through Facebook – it’s a Facebook group – and the movement is specifically about going from words to actions when it comes to supporting locally owned independent businesses,” said Johnson. “Because, to be honest, there is a lot of lip service to support local communities, but not a lot of action.”

Keep Local Alive Tucson already has more than 1,000 members. The idea is to get people to share pictures and recommendations of their favorite small businesses.

“Take the promise,” said Johnson. “Take $ 20 that you would normally spend at a chain restaurant or large retail store and move that $ 20 to a locally run independent this week. That’s $ 80 a month. When you spend [your money at places like Piece by Piece Wear] In contrast to a large retail store or Amazon, more than half of your money will stay and recirculate here. “

According to the Move 20 Save Local calculator, if $ 80 each month were diverted to local facilities from each Greater Tucson resident, $ 871,853,580 would flow back into the local economy by the end of 2021.

“I think it’s incredible that people, out of the pure kindness of their hearts, make sure that local businesses are looked after,” says Penny. “Support small, shop small. These guys are helping to make it happen. “

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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