Join us on Facebook, where each month we’ll focus on a different building block of our Local Living Economy – highlighting the businesses, organizations & individuals who are making these components stronger and more resilient in our region.
Building Blocks:
Posted in Local Living Economy | Tagged Business All, Monadnock Local Living Economy | Leave a Comment »
MB Massage Studio is hosting a Girls Night Event in Westmoreland, NH this Friday, May 11th from 6:00-8:30 at the Westmoreland Town Hall. It’s a free event for the ladies. There will be food, fun, a little pampering & shopping all in time for Mother’s Day!
Jayelay Jewelers and six other businesses will be there. So grab your girlfriends and stop by!
The first 50 people will get our “swag bags” filled with goodies and specials from our vendors. We will also be having some pretty GREAT raffles with prizes that include: a 1 hour massage, Nine holes of golf for 2, a Great Grilling Cookbook & More!
See more information at MB Massage Studio’s Website.
Posted in In the News | Leave a Comment »
This month we asked which businesses, organizations and initiatives you believe are supporting ART in our Monadnock Local Living Economy.
Facebook fans generated a short list of recommendations – we hope you will add your suggestions as well:
Monadnock Area Artists Association
North Country Sustainability Center
Posted in Local Living Economy | Tagged Art, Creative Economy | Leave a Comment »
Thank you Monadnock Rideshare for sharing your story – how your nonprofit supports for-profits:
“Put $ in the #Bank Not in Your Tank!” tweets @MonRidshare, a message sent into the Twittersphere by MonadnockRideshare.org. A service of CVTC, Monadnock Rideshare serves the Monadnock Region with an online Rideboard where carpoolers post or seek rides.
To get people carpooling, the program rewards eligible carpoolers with raffle prizes donated from local area businesses. Monadnock Rideshare supports these businesses by announcing pending prizes and their subsequent award via an eNewsletter, Monadnock Motoring™. The eNewsletter includes links to websites, Facebook pages and/or from product images or logos paying-it-forward on behalf of the businesses who have donated.
In addition to branding and advertising, the prospect of increasing a business’ Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Search Engine Return Page (SERP) rankings via the eBlast links can be instrumental in a business marketing strategy. Return business on the part of the carpool winner is another potential win for those who have donated and perpetuates buy-local.
At a time when everyone is economically sensitive to rising and fluctuating gas prices, why not carpool?
MonadnockRideshare.org, a service of CVTC, relies on the generosity of employers and other partners to provide matching funds for federal grants. Every partner dollar is matched by four federal dollars. CVTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a Monadnock United Way partner agency.
Posted in Local Living Economy | Tagged CVTC, Monadnock Rideshare, Transportation | Leave a Comment »
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Early Opening On May 4th For Avengers
The Northfield Drive-In Theatre is set to open for its 64th season on Friday and Saturday, May 4th and 5th with the action-packed movie from the comic book series Avengers.
One of the oldest drive-in theatres in New England, the Northfield Drive-In Theatre opened in August of 1948, and since then, has offered one of the greatest forms of entertainment for generations of families.
The 2012 season at the Northfield Drive-In marks a special one in history, as it will be the last one where carbon arc movie projection is used (digital equipment will take over for the 2013 season). Moviegoers to the drive-in will get a chance to look behind the scenes to see how this historic form of movie projection, that has been used over the last 100 years, works.
The Northfield Drive-In is located on the Massachusetts/New Hampshire border (Northfield Road, Route 63) and is believed to be the only one in the country that straddles state borders. The drive-in will be open on Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Memorial Day weekend, when it will then be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through Labor Day weekend. The gates open at 6:30 p.m. with a full food and snack bar menu.
The Northfield Drive-In is on Facebook and presently has over 7200 fans and over 5000 friends! See the Web site at www.northfielddrivein.com.
Posted in Buying Local Adventures | Tagged Northfield Drive-In | Leave a Comment »
Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News (MBL Media Sponsor)
In the Monadnock Region, we are fortunate to have a number of large companies giving generously to the “small guy” and our community. What we don’t always notice is that the reverse is true as well. Our community has many small businesses and nonprofits offering services that enable both large & small businesses and our community to thrive.
In past articles, we featured how independent businesses support nonprofits. We’re flipping that around in this article, focusing on how nonprofits support for-profit businesses and our local economy.
“Nonprofits are businesses that have been granted a special tax status by the IRS because they provide a public benefit and their profits support their mission,” shares Mary Ann Kristiansen Executive Director of the Hannah Grimes Center. “They provide jobs, require a solid business model, purchase goods, rent and own property and provide good and services. They provide vital support and direct contributions to a thriving local economy and vibrant community.”
In New Hampshire, nonprofits contribute $9.1 billion dollars to the state’s economy, equaling 15% of our GDP. Nonprofits also provide one out of seven jobs in our state. And, given our lean government, New Hampshire residents rely more heavily on nonprofits to provide the services that they need. {View more about nonprofits in New Hampshire.}
Businesses also rely on the nonprofit sector for services. Specifically, they look to nonprofits to help improve their financial, environmental and social bottom lines. In the Monadnock Region, one example of a nonprofit working to strengthen for-profit businesses is the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene. Hannah Grimes offers a broad range of programs, from its Business Incubator Program to its lunchtime workshops, to start, grow and connect businesses.
One locally-owned business owner who receives direct support from the Hannah Grimes Center is local architect and Monadnock Buy Local (MBL) Member Michael Petrovick. He is an associate of the Hannah Grimes Business Incubator, a business growth program that includes office space. “I can’t say enough about how important a role Hannah Grimes Center and the events hosted here have played in the immediate growth of my business,” says Mike. “I’ve gotten two new projects and some great opportunities for future work. The time I’ve invested in attending Hannah Grimes events has clearly been time well spent.” Learn more at http://www.hannahgrimes.com.
Southwestern Community Services (SCS) serves as our second example of how one nonprofit supports a for-profit business. SCS implemented a payroll deduction program, helping their employees become founding member-owners of the Monadnock Community Market Co-op, a cooperatively-owned food store opening in downtown Keene. This program made it possible for 31 SCS Staff Members to join the MCM Co-op, for a total investment of $6,800.
On a nationwide scale, Monadnock Buy Local gets guidance and inspiration from two nonprofits: the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy (BALLE) and the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA). Both organizations offer resources, trainings and networking opportunities for independent business networks like MBL. Here’s a flavor of their offerings: Last month, AMIBA hosted the “Building Prosperity from Within” Conference in Louisville, KY where attendees shared successes and best practices with each other. This month, BALLE offered a webinar called “Financing our Foodshed” that shared models of peer-to-peer local investing opportunities to connect local investors with local businesses. Learn more about AMIBA at www.amiba.net and BALLE at www.livingeconomies.org.
Are you involved with a nonprofit that supports for-profit businesses, or do you own of a locally-owned business that benefits from the work of nonprofits? Please share your story with Monadnock Buy Local: monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.
Monadnock Buy Local is near the end of its 2012 Membership Drive. Locally-owned businesses & nonprofits are invited to join before May 1, 2012 to be included in the 2012 Monadnock Buy Local Guide. Details are at http://monadnocklocal.org/join-us.
Posted in In the News, Local Living Economy | Tagged American Independent Business Alliance, Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, Hannah Grimes Center, Michael Petrovick Architect, Monadnock Community Market Co-op, NH Center for Nonprofits, Southwestern Community Services | 1 Comment »
Make Sure You’re Listed:
Locally-owned businesses & nonprofits are invited to join Monadnock Buy Local in 2012. Join before May 1, 2012 and your business will be listed in the regional paper-based 2012-2013 Monadnock Buy Local Guide.
Join Online:
Membership is an annual fee of $100. Fill out the MBL Member Application and Join Online.
More Membership Information:
View MBL’s Membership Brochure.
About Us:
Monadnock Buy Local (MBL) is a network of locally-owned and independent businesses, organizations and citizens working together to build a stronger local economy and a more vibrant community.
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