Menu
Log in


Log in
  • October 20, 2023 11:20 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    We invite businesses and organizations to participate in the Monadnock Region's Plaid Friday event on Friday, November 24.  Celebrate in creative ways that work best for you, your staff, and neighborhood.

    Here's one great way to participate: Become a Plaid Friday Hub

    As a Plaid Friday Hub, your business commits to:

    • Printing out and posting our Plaid Friday Poster before the event
    • Having you and your staff wear plaid on November 24
    • Photographing customers who visit your business wearing plaid (browse past year's photos for inspiration)
    • Sharing information about Plaid Friday with all your staff, clients, and customers

    Other Ways to Participate in Plaid Friday

    Here are some other ideas -- but get creative, too!

    • Encourage your staff (and your partner’s staff) to wear plaid (Not open on Plaid Friday? Check out what Badger Balm does the day before Thanksgiving)
    • If you offer any holiday specials/sales/event, please share them with us and we'll post them on our Plaid Friday Members Specials Page
    • Create a display featuring locally made items
    • Use plaid ribbon, tissue paper or buy local bags
    • Add #shopindielocal and #plaidfriday to your social media posts

    If you'd like to serve as a Plaid Friday hub this year, please contact us today.

    I want to be a Plaid Friday Hub



  • September 25, 2023 8:56 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    This October, celebrate the arts during Choose Indie Art Month hosted by the American Independent Business Alliance. We’ll recognize all types of artists -- crafters, painters, musicians, actors, writers, and others -- and boast about the positive impacts artists have on our community and local economy.  Celebrate with us!

    "The Monadnock region has a thriving arts scene," shared Jessica Gelter, Arts Alive Executive Director. "There are over 2,500 people employed at arts organizations and as gig workers. The best way to support the arts is to buy local!"


    Four Reasons to Celebrate

    The arts mean business: In 2021, the art sector made up 4.3 percent of the US economy -- greater than construction, transportation, or agriculture industries -- and included 4.9 million workers.  The arts also mean revenue for other local businesses, as each arts event attendee spends an additional $31.47 at neighboring stores, restaurants, and hotels.

    Art boosts our well-being: A national opinion poll from the Americans for the Arts found that 69 percent of us believe the arts “lift me up beyond everyday experiences,” and 81 percent shared that the arts are a “positive experience in a troubled world.”  Recognizing the healing power of art, about half of US hospitals offer arts programming.

    Art brings us together: 72 percent of Americans believe “the arts unify our communities regardless of age, race, and ethnicity,” and 73 percent agree that the arts “helps me understand other cultures better.”

    Art inspires creativity:  A Journal of Business Research study found that displaying art in the workplace boosted employees’ creative thinking.

    “The arts are the lifeblood of our communities, raising morale, creating community cohesion, and providing comfort during dark times while also delivering a huge economic footprint,” said Nolen V. Bivens, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “And it is more important than ever that everyone take part to recognize the creative and cultural value of the arts and humanities in our communities.”

    Learn more

    Fours Ways to Celebrate

    Shop Indie Art: Look for opportunities to purchase art and creative works from Monadnock Region artists.  Here’s one option coming up soon: The 50th Annual Cheshire Craftsmen Fair on October 7 and October 8 from 9 am – 3 pm at the Keene Recreation Center.  Shop early for unique holiday gifts, including home decor, quilted items, jewelry, soaps, woven items, quilted crafts, pottery, fleece and felted crafts, framed photos, wooden toys, wooden crafts, candles, and more.

    Attend an art event or take a tour:  Here are two fantastic chances to meet local artists and see where they work.  The Monadnock Art Tour and Fall Foliage Art Studio Tour both happen the weekend of October 7 – 9.  Other event ideas: Enjoy an event featuring live music like the Mole Hill Revival at Mole Hill Theatre in Alstead on October 7.  Take a walk around downtown Keene’s public art murals painted in 2019 by The Walldogs, a group of over 200 sign and mural artists from around the world. If you prefer a guided tour, register with the Historical Society of Cheshire County (tickets are $10 per person). Whether film, theatre, music, or visual arts events, discover them all!

    Discover more events

    Take a class: Get your creative juices flowing by signing up for a class or two.  The Harris Center will offer a Nature Photography 101 on October 7.  Check out all the creative offerings happening at MAXT Makerspace in October at maxtmakerspace.org/classes.  From dance classes to theatre coaching, find more educational opportunities.

    Browse many more classes

    Show your art: Join #ShowYourArt, an Instagram challenge hosted by Americans for the Arts.  They want to “inspire your creative spirit and showcase the culture that makes our communities unique and vibrant. And whether you post once or all month long, you’ll be part of the movement showing the power and purpose of the arts and humanities across all parts of life.”  Learn more.

    Stay tuned for more Choose Indie Arts news, events, and inspiration 

    Choose Indie Art is part of a larger Choose Indie Local year-round movement.  Together, we inspire our communities to take positive action and boost the ripple effects our neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive when we spend and invest more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

    Thank you to our local Choose Indie Art partners: Arts Alive, Alicia Drakiotes Studio, Monadnock Food Co-op, Shaker Style Handcrafted Furniture, The Local Crowd Monadnock, and The Monadnocker.

  • July 23, 2023 6:30 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)

    For the eleventh year, let’s shine a light on local food, farms, and our Monadnock Region food system during New Hampshire Eats Local Month, a month-long celebration of our state’s harvest in August. 

    Discover More

    What do we mean by a food system? Our food system includes all the pieces needed to bring local food from the farm to our plates: the soil, farm workers, transportation networks, markets, and more -- everything needed to grow, harvest, and distribute these goods to us.  These pieces come together to form our local food system.

    Please dig in and enjoy part one of this year’s bounty of updates!

    Banking on Local Food

    Walden Mutual Bank, based in Concord, is a new online bank rooted in the regional food system.  Individuals and businesses can open an account and the bank lends this money to local food and farm businesses throughout New England.  Locally, Walden Mutual helped Oliver Levick purchase Monadnock Berries in Troy from his parents.

    “The mutual part of our name means we are cooperative, which means we are owned by our community of account holders and allows us to build a bank for the next 100 years,” said Chloe Wingerter, Walden Mutual Business Development Officer. “We offer customizable loans across the entire value chain, which includes everything from production farms, distributors, processors, co-packers, and consumer trade brands, to even ag-adjacent businesses such as solar energy.”

    Round It Up for Food Connects

    This August, Round It Up (round up your purchases to donate your change) at Monadnock Food Co-op’s registers to benefit Food Connects, a food hub based in Brattleboro, VT.  New this year: The Co-op will pilot an additional way to Round It Up in August, virtually through The Local Crowd Monadnock.

    Round It Up

    Funds raised will support the Food Connects Farm to School initiative in the Monadnock Region. Their program offers professional development and local food purchasing support to school professionals, grant support for schools, and printed materials, including Harvest of the Month calendars, posters, cookbooks, and other signage to bolster and promote Farm to School initiatives. In partnership with The Monadnock Regional School District and the Cornucopia Project, Food Connects will help the Monadnock Farm to School network thrive and create a new generation of mindful eaters.

    “The Co-op’s Round It Up program has proven to be a powerful tool in rallying community support and making a tangible difference in the lives of children in our region,” said Richard Berkfield, Executive Director and Founder of Food Connects. “The support from the Monadnock Food Coop not only helps us foster a healthier and more sustainable food system but also enables us to educate and inspire the next generation about the importance of local agriculture and healthy eating.”

    Visit a Monadnock Farm

    Attend the fifth annual Monadnock Farm Tour and After Party on Saturday, August 19, from 12 – 8 pm. Participating Monadnock farms will open their barns, pastures, hoop houses, flower gardens, and production facilities. The event highlights how farms contribute to our local economy, their role in preserving open space, and how they contribute to our quality of life. The tour runs from 12 – 5 pm and costs $10 per car.  The After Party happens at Outlaw Brewing in Winchester from 5 – 8 pm.  This free, kid-friendly event offers delicious food from the Outlaw Food Truck, outstanding brews, and live music. A 50/50 raffle will take place to benefit Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition (MFCC) to keep our local food system robust.

    Discover More

    “After a wonderful afternoon of shopping at local farms, visiting the animals, walking the vegetable or flower fields, or learning a bit more about a bee farm, we’re very excited to offer folks a nice, family-friendly evening where you can sit back and eat great food, listen to great music, and imbibe delicious, on-tap brews at Outlaw Brewing,” shared Roe-Ann Tasoulas, MFCC Executive Director.  “We are so lucky to be surrounded by such a wide variety of farm experiences, products, and farmers. We hope everyone can get out for a memorable afternoon and evening!"

    Farm Camp for Teachers

    Join the Monadnock Farm to School Network for a Farm to School Day Camp for Teachers at the Cornucopia Project Educational Farm in Peterborough on Monday, August 21, from 10 am – 3 pm. This free camp will provide teachers classroom-ready curriculum through demonstrations, a farm tour, group activities, and games -- just like a real camp. The event includes a delicious lunch and a chance to win a raised garden bed or compost bin. Professional development credits are available. The Monadnock Farm To School Network members include Cornucopia Project, Stonewall Farm, and Monadnock Farm and Community Coalition. 

    Register Today

    Stay tuned for part two of this article in August, including local food and farm updates from Acworth Village Store, Cheshire County Conservation District, Cornucopia Project, and more!

    Thank you to all the individuals, programs, policies, and initiatives that continue to build a more robust local and regional food system in our corner of the state and throughout New England.  Together, we’re cultivating healthier citizens, communities, and economies.

  • July 21, 2023 8:16 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    It's time to start planning for this year's Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, and Shop Indie Local efforts!

    We're kicking off our Shop Indie Local planning efforts with a crowdfunding campaignThe more funds we raise, the more we'll amplify our message.

    Together, we will:

    • Leverage the importance of supporting locally owned businesses -- LIKE YOURS!
    • Inspire more of us to shift our holiday spending to independent businesses.
    • Affirm our dedication to the local economy movement.


    Business Owners: Make the Pledge to Become a Shop Indie Local Sponsor


    Show off your dedication to the local economy movement and support our Shop Indie Local efforts today!

    Shop Indie Local includes supporting Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, Small Business Saturday, and other promotions happening November 1 - December 31, 2023.

    With your support, we will continue to build traction -- inspiring more and more AND MORE community participation and media attention.

    Please consider supporting this year’s Plaid Friday, Cider Monday, and Shop Indie Local campaign at one (or more!) of the levels below.

    TLC Monadnock Mercantile Rock Star: $25

    Your logo or product will appear prominently on our TLC Monadnock Mercantile for one week (you choose the week - first come, first served).

    Cider Monday Rock Star: $50

    Your logo will appear in our Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

    Plaid Friday Rock Star:  $75

    Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers).

    Plaid Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cider Monday Rock Star: $150

    Your logo will appear in our Plaid Friday AND Cider Monday ad in the Monadnock Shopper News (~60,000 weekly readers) AND the Keene Sentinel (delivered to ~10,000 households).

    Plaid Friday Launch Sponsor: $1,000

    Sponsor a Plaid Friday launch in your town or at your business. Your name and logo will appear on our Launch Event marketing materials and press release. We'll plan this launch together.

    All sponsorship pledges are due by October 31, 2023.  Send us an email to pledge your sponsorship or click on the button below to purchase your sponsorship through our crowdfunding campaign.

    Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for all you do to support our local economy each and every day.

  • June 28, 2023 6:41 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)

    Twenty years ago, locally owned businesses in Tampa, Florida, came together to celebrate the very first Independents Week. Soon after, American Independent Business Alliance helped bring Independents Week to independent business alliances throughout the United States.  Now, twenty years later, American Independent Business Alliance invites communities to come together to celebrate Independents Month!

     

    Independents Month

    Independents Month is a time to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses and the community values they embody:

    • Their spirit of entrepreneurship, individuality, uniqueness, and character.
    • How they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services.
    • How they fulfill community needs that make us healthier and wealthier.

     

    Multiplier Effect

    Independents Month, part of AMIBA’s Shop Indie Local Initiative, is the perfect time to shine a light on the Local Multiplier Effect and the Monadnock Indie Impact Study. Together, we’ll inspire our communities to take positive action and boost the positive ripple effects our neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive when we spend more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

     

    It Starts With You

    Independents Month is a time to reflect on your ability to think and act independently and embrace your part in shaping the future of your community. Choose Indie Local and boost the multiplier effect in your region.  Also, take time to acknowledge the independent business owners you know.

     

    Take the Indie Challenge

    Another way to celebrate Independents Month is to take the Indie Challenge. Pledge to make all of your purchases at locally owned businesses for one day, one week, or the entire month. Sign on to the Indie Challenge today!

    Traveling during Independents Month? Enjoy what locally owned, and independent businesses have to offer wherever you’re visiting. Ask locals where their favorites are and look for independent business alliances in the areas you’re visiting.

     

    The History of Independents Week

    Carla Jimenez, co-owner of Inkwood Books and co-founder of the Tampa Independent Business Alliance, created the first Independents Week in 2001. In 2005, AMIBA began promoting the campaign nationally, providing tools to help communities organize their own Independents Week celebrations.

    This July, let’s celebrate our independence and our independents together. 


  • June 26, 2023 6:56 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)

    As a parent, I want my children to inherit a vibrant community with real opportunities for work and play,” said Rachel P. from Nelson.  “The only real way to do that is to invest in local businesses and people now so that the Monadnock Region is thriving when they are ready to work and live here on their own!”


    This July, celebrate Independents Month with The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock -- a time to elevate the importance of independent and locally owned businesses (including all the owners and staff).  One perfect way to celebrate is to take our Indie Challenge.  Pledge to make all your purchases at locally owned businesses -- for one day, one week, or the entire month of July.  You choose! 


    Sign on to the Indie Challenge today! 

    “As a Monadnock Region resident, I want to do my part to keep the area thriving,” said Indie Challenge-taker Lora T. from Peterborough.

    In addition to the Indie Challenge, take a Staycation.  Instead of traveling far from home to get away, vacation here and experience all the Monadnock Region has to offer.  You’ll save money at the gas pumps and make new connections to nurture throughout the year.  Keep reading for July Staycation ideas.  

    Let’s Make Ripples

    Where you spend your dollars matters -- your choices create a ripple effect that starts with you and extends out to our entire community and local economy.  Choose an Indie Local (independent and locally owned business) and the positive ripple effects magnify.

    When you spend your dollars at a locally owned and independent business, instead of a chain store or online giant, your dollars recirculate through our local economy 2-4 times more.  As your dollars recirculate through our community, the money generates more local wealth. 

    Learn More

    Independents Month Staycation Giveaway

    One lucky Indie Challenge-taker will win our Independents Month Staycation Giveaway.  Our Staycation Giveaway includes a two-night stay for two at the Inn at East Hill Farm in Troy (includes six delicious home-cooked meals, activities, and use of their facilities); one $250 gift card from the Monadnock Food Co-op in Keene; two classes at Aloha Keene, a community center for healthy living in Keene with a regular schedule of yoga and more; one $50 gift card from The Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough; one $20 gift certificate from Catbird Flower Farm in Keene (good for their roadside flower stand from May - September); and one $125 gift certificate from Healthy Home Habitats in Keene for a one-hour landscape & garden design consultation.  

    “A challenge like this makes me think more clearly about supporting local businesses,” said Indie Challenge-taker Sue L. from Keene.  “Usually, I don't consider who I'm buying from, and a challenge like this makes me think twice about where I buy what I need.”

    We’ll announce the winner in early August. 

    See All the Details!


    Independents Month reminds us to recognize our locally owned and independent businesses for the community values they embody and their spirit of entrepreneurship.  Also, we acknowledge all the ways they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services, making us healthier and wealthier.  Thank an independent business owner and their staff today!

    “I have seen the value and care that locally owned businesses bring to their communities,” shared Nathan B. from Harrisville.  “Our local businesses support important work that needs doing and help to provide valuable services and opportunities for our young people!”

    July Staycation Ideas

    Looking for some Staycation ideas?  Here are a few events in July to add to your Staycation plans.


    “Since 2012, I have been honored to be your ambassador for Find Waldo Local initiatives in over 520 cities across the US,” shared Waldo, the star of the Where’s Waldo book series. “More than 575 indie bookstores have participated, and more than 14,500 local merchants have been involved.”

    Get ready! Waldo begins hiding in Downtown Keene from July 1 to July 31. Pick up a passport at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene and start your search at twenty-five participating stores.  Find Waldo (a six-inch version of him, that is!) at ten stores and get a coupon and a sticker.  Find him at twenty stores and get entered into a raffle for Waldo books and other goodies supplied by participating stores.  Save the date for a party at Toadstool Bookshop in Keene on Sunday, August 6 at 2 pm. 

    Learn More!


    Wizarding Week returns July 26 – 30.  What's Wizarding Week?  Locally owned businesses in Downtown Keene host the fourth annual Wizarding Week -- bigger and better than ever!  So much fun for all ages.  “Where magic classes are real, menus are elaborate, and fun is never in short supply.” 

    Stay Tuned!

    Paddle or meander with the Harris Center.  Check out their events list and sign up for one (or more!) excursions this month: harriscenter.org/events.

    Stroll around downtown Keene’s public art murals painted in 2019 by The Walldogs -- a group of over 200 sign and mural artists from around the world.  If you prefer a guided tour, register for the July 1 event at 10 am with the Historical Society of Cheshire County (tickets are $10 per person): hsccnh.org/event/walldogs-mural-tour-july-2023.

    Support Local Wherever You Are

    Traveling during Independents Month?  Enjoy what locally owned businesses have to offer wherever you are.  Ask locals where their favorite independents are and look for local economy networks at amiba.net/our-network.

    Think independently and act locally this Independents Month and beyond.  Together, we’ll boost the positive ripple effects our community receives when we spend more of our dollars at locally owned, independent businesses.

  • May 30, 2023 4:59 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)

    Last year, The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock launched our first-ever Staycation Challenge.  It went so well that we’re bringing the challenge back for another year!

    What’s a Staycation?

    Summer means vacation for many of us.  However, taking a vacation doesn’t have to include traveling far from home to get away.  Take a Staycation and experience all the Monadnock Region has to offer.

     You’ll save money at the gas pumps and make new connections to nurture throughout the year.  The money you spend recirculates in our local economy, building more community health and wealth.

    What's the Staycation Challenge?

    Enter TLC Monadnock’s Staycation Challenge by pledging to spend your dollars only at locally owned businesses for one day, one week, or the entire month of July.

    Learn More

    Take our pre-survey now and then a post-survey coming in late July.  Complete both surveys for your chance to win our Staycation package.  

    What’s this year’s Staycation Package?

    This year’s winner of our Staycation Package will receive a two-night stay for two at the Inn at East Hill Farm, a farm stay in Troy (includes six delicious home-cooked meals, activities, and use of their facilities); two classes at Aloha Keene, a community center for healthy living in Keene with a regular schedule of yoga and more; one $50 gift card from The Toadstool Bookshops in Keene and Peterborough; One $20 gift certificate from Catbird Flower Farm in Keene (good for their roadside flower stand from May - September); and one $125 gift certificate from Healthy Home Habitats in Keene for a one-hour landscape & garden design consultation.

    We’ll announce our winner in mid-August.

    Start Your Staycation in June

    Why not start Staycationing now?  Here are a few events in June to add to your Staycation plans.

    Downtown storefronts will transform into art galleries during Keene ArtWalk on June 2 – 11.  Stroll up and down Main Street to view the works of local artists.  The Art is Everywhere event will happen on Saturday, June 3 from 11 am – 4 pm, as the ArtWalk expands to Railroad Square with performances and interactive art activities. Also, watch artists paint at different downtown locations from 10 am – 1 pm.  Check out all the details here.

    On June 3, downtown Keene also comes alive with food! The Keene Young Professional Network will host the third annual Taste of Keene Food Festival at the top of Main Street from 11:30 am – 3:30 pm.  Enjoy music at Central Square (from pop covers to classic rock) and street performers hosted by The Colonial Theatre.

    Purchase small bites and mocktails from twenty-three local restaurants and food producers.   New vendors include Prime Roast Coffee, Jenna’s Market, and Muse Tapas Bar & Lounge. Get your food tokens today and save: tasteofkeene.com.  

    Don’t forget to visit the Taste of Keene’s local craft biergarten to sip on a selection of our region's best brews and spirits (21 and over).  Please bring your ID.  Purchase beverage tickets at the event.  Stay tuned for the Taste of Keene’s full schedule.

    On June 22, from 1 – 3 pm, enjoy Pollinator Palooza -- an afternoon of learning and celebration of pollinators at Ashuelot River Park in Keene.  This event coincides with National Pollinator Week.  Activities include a pollinator scavenger hunt, creating your own bee box, painting your own pot for a native plant, and more.

    Local plant and compost vendors will sell a variety of products, with 20% of sales supporting Cheshire County Conservation District’s programs. Vendors include Fassett Farm Nursery, Thistle Dew Farm, Julie's Garden, Phylicia Roberts, Cook Hill Farm, and Echo Farm Puddings.  Learn more.

    Gilsum will ROCK the weekend of June 24 – 25 during the Gilsum Rock Swap & Mineral Show at the Gilsum Elementary School and Community Center.  Browse tables, tables, and tables of gems, jewelry, and minerals for sale or swap.  Grab a meal and pan for minerals.  At 1 pm on Saturday, New Hampshire mineral expert Tom Mortimer will present. View the full schedule.

    Celebrate Pride Month This June

    TLC Monadnock will join with the American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America to celebrate LGBTQ+ owned businesses, diversity, and equity. Our regional partners include Keene Family YMCA, Keene Pride, Monadnock Food Co-op, and Prime Roast Coffee Co.  Learn more.

    Monadnock Food Co-op will launch weekly Round It Up Donation Drives for four organizations focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts this June. The Co-op's Round It Up donation program empowers us to positively impact our community by rounding up our change at the register to support local nonprofits.


    June 3 – 9: American Independent Business Alliance
    AMIBA provides DEI resources and training for campaigns run locally by The Local Crowd Monadnock. Campaigns include Choose Black-Owned Month, Pride Month, and seven other campaigns.

    June 10 -16: The Daily Good
    The Daily Good supports food security and diversity through food pantries on local college campuses and other centers.

    June 17 – 23: Keene Pride
    Keene Pride supports a coalition of services, organizations, and businesses that embrace and serve the LGBTQ+ population.

    June 24 – 30: Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition
    The MDEIB Coalition advocates for and develop DEI initiatives in the region.

    We each play a critical role in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive region.  Our Co-op is proud to support these four organizations and the work they do collectively to make our community more welcoming.

    Stay tuned for Staycation updates.  Happy local adventures!

  • May 27, 2023 7:22 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    Monadnock Food Co-op is excited to launch weekly Round It Up Donation Drives for four organizations focusing on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts this June.

    The Co-op’s Round It Up donation program empowers you to positively impact your community by rounding up your change to support local nonprofits.


    June 3 – 9: American Independent Business Alliance

    Provides DEI resources and training for Choose Indie Local campaigns run locally by The Local Crowd Monadnock. Campaigns include Choose Black-Owned Month and eight other campaigns. The Local Crowd Monadnock’s June campaign is Pride Month.

    LEARN MORE



    June 10 -16: The Daily Good

    Supports food security and diversity through food pantries on local college campuses and other centers.



    June 17 – 23: Keene Pride

    Supports a coalition of services, organizations, and businesses that embrace and serve the LGBTQ+ population.



    June 24 – 30: Monadnock Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Coalition

    Advocates for and develops DEI initiatives in the region.



    “Each of us plays a critical role in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive region,” said Jen Risley, Monadnock Food Co-op Community Coordinator. “Our Co-op is proud to support these four organizations and the work they do collaboratively to make our community more welcoming and strong.”


  • May 11, 2023 9:56 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    The Keene Downtown Group recently launched the Building a More Walkable Keene crowdfunding campaign through The Local Crowd (TLC) Monadnock.

    Support this campaign today!

    The funds raised will support bringing Jeff Speck, author and urban designer who advocates internationally for more walkable cities, to Keene on June 12, 2023. Speck has literally written the book on the subject, the 2012 classic Walkable City, the best-selling city planning title of the past decade.

    Speck has helped communities large and small understand how walkability supports common goals like increasing tourism, economic activity, public health, safety, and sustainability. His wealth of experience, knowledge, and vision allows him to serve as an invaluable resource to each community he works with, whether the discussion focuses on big-picture change or targeted incremental improvements.

    "As our city grapples with major decisions about public space and infrastructure, there could not be a better time to welcome Jeff to our community and benefit from his perspective," said Todd Horner, Vice-Chair of the Keene Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathway Advisory Committee. "We owe it to ourselves and future generations to consider all our options, including ideas that a foremost expert like Jeff can bring to the table. When making tough choices about our world-class city, we should have world-class ideas at our fingertips."

    Offline donations are also accepted. Checks can be made out to Keene Downtown Group, PO Box 80, Keene, NH, 03431. Please add "Jeff Speck" to the memo. This crowdfunding campaign continues through May.

  • April 24, 2023 6:58 AM | TLC Monadnock (Administrator)


    “After 50 years of framing work around the automobile, retail analysts in both the private and public sectors are shifting to a new consensus: cars don’t spend money — people do.”

    The quote above, taken from the report Protected Bike Lanes Mean Business, highlights a significant shift in thinking. People need access to our locally owned stores, whether getting there by foot, bicycle, wheelchair, bus, or personal vehicle. How can we balance each person’s transportation needs with municipal budgets and businesses’ bottom lines? Enter the bicycle.

    There’s growing evidence that encouraging people to go by bicycle boosts the local economy. When done correctly, adding bicycle lanes and other cycling amenities can increase retail sales while decreasing parking pressures.

    Read More

    “Bicycling is more than a practical, cost-effective solution to many municipal challenges,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “When local communities invest in making bicycling safer and a real transportation option for more people, the return on investment is clear for individuals and society at large — from cost-savings on public health to small businesses’ growth and more.”

    While bicyclists tend to buy smaller amounts when they shop, bicyclists visit each store more often and spend more money overall compared to those who commute by automobile. Also, providing space for bicycle parking costs municipalities less than vehicle parking. A dozen bicycles can fit into one parking space designed for a vehicle.


    Celebrate Bicycling in May

    May is National Bicycle Month, the perfect time to amplify the benefits of bicycling and take more bike rides. Whether you ride for fun, fitness, or take essential trips to work or shop, be part of the movement for safer streets, connected communities, a healthier planet, and happier people.

    Mark your calendar and cycle along! National Ride A Bike Day happens May 7, Bike to Work Week will take place May 15-21, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 19.

    The American Independent Business Alliance and partners throughout North America will celebrate Bicycling Means Business Month in May, promoting the connections between bicycling and healthy local economies.

    Schools nationwide will celebrate Bike & Roll to School Day on May 3. Over 800 schools will participate to call attention to making routes to schools safer and kids more active.

    Track all your bicycling miles on Love to Ride’s website. Create your own goals and connect with other bicyclists. Register today to get started.

    Let’s get rolling!


Latest News

The Local Crowd Monadnock - Mailing Address: 63 Emerald St. #114, Keene, NH 03431

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software