Buy Local Catches On
By Tina Salter

About two years ago a group of citizens joined together to encourage positive public participation in Atascadero. Vision Atascadero began as an effort to unite the community and find pro-active solutions to community challenges. After developing a Web site (www.VisionAtascadero.com), the group began a Buy Local campaign and designed the acorn stickers now seen at many businesses around town. Buy Local campaigns have been started nationwide by Chambers of Commerce and other local groups.

Recently I have noticed that our Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and Main Street have begun using terminology and ideas from Vision Atascadero’s Buy Local campaign. Vision Atascadero’s slogan, “Enjoy Atascadero’s home-grown treasures,” has been reflected in Chamber ads; the local shopping spree sweepstakes sponsored by Vision Atascadero in August was followed by the Chamber’s “hidden treasures” sweepstakes in September. Main Street has just announced plans to begin its own "buy locally" campaign.

As a local shopper and long-term resident of the Atascadero area, I applaud these efforts. All of these activities help local residents become aware of the increased value of local businesses to our local economy and the importance of spending shopping dollars here rather than out of town. And now that the holiday shopping season is almost upon us, Buy Local has even more importance. To help residents find more local businesses to patronize, Vision Atascadero added a Buy Local Art page to its Web site, encouraging Atascadero residents and others to support our local artists and local galleries. Our many talented Atascadero artists are another “home grown treasure” this group has recognized and promoted.

I am pleased by the good work Vision Atascadero has accomplished in the past two years with much effort, patience, and perseverance. Now in these hard economic times it is more important than ever to support our community businesses. Keep your dollars at home—Buy Local, Buy Atascadero!

First Buy Local Sweepstakes Generates Large Response
When Vision Atascadero decided to run the first Buy Local Sweepstakes, the big question was: will local residents respond by supporting local Atascadero businesses?

The results are in and the answer is a resounding YES! The 57 participating businesses received more than 1600 entries; Spencer’s alone collected 304 entry forms.

Vision Atascadero spokesman Bruce Bevans commented, "The response far exceeded our hopes for a sweepstakes like this. The citizens really came out to support Buy Local businesses throughout Atascadero." According to Bevans, Vision Atascadero will announce the winners of one $500 and five $100 shopping sprees shortly.

The Buy Local Sweepstakes ran throughout the month of August to focus attention on businesses that return more to our community by being locally owned and operated. Vision Atascadero's Buy Local program is dedicated to improving the business climate in Atascadero from the ground up. The organization invites all locally owned and operated businesses to participate in the program at no cost to them.

Vision Atascadero encourages Atascadero residents to look for the acorn logo when they shop. Their Web site, www.VisionAtascadero.com, offers more information about Buy Local Business, Buy Local Art, and other Vision Atascadero programs.

Vision Atascadero Buy Local Sweepstakes Launched!
Vision Atascadero is sponsoring a Buy Local Sweepstakes to help promote our local economy and encourage residents to become familiar with the variety of businesses in Atascadero.

Click Here for Details

Vision Atascadero Adds Civil Discourse and Logical Fallacies Content
The effectiveness of an argument depends on the use of facts, logic, and appropriate language. Unfortunately, when people feel strongly about an issue, they are more likely to rely on logical fallacies, rather than facts and sound reasoning.

Click Here for Discourse & Logic

Blue Balloon Wednesdays
Look for blue balloons in the Colony District. They mark stores that stay open until 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings.

Vision Atascadero Adds Visions of Atascadero Photo Gallery
Take a look at our photos taken within city limits and send us one of your own.

Click Here for the Gallery

Vision Atascadero Adds Atascadero Links Directory
We offer a comprehensive set of local links for additional information about resources that are available to residents. These sites are consistent with Vision Atascadero’s community efforts or its commitment to sustainable environmental practices.

Click Here for the LInks

Buy Local Acorn Logo Available
If you would like to display the Buy Local acorn logo in your own advertising and/or web page, send us an email.

Vision Atascadero's Buy Local Campaign
Excerpts from an article published in HopeDance, #65, November/December 2007
by Shawna Galassi

With nothing but "shoe leather and sweat," a small group of citizens launched a Buy Local campaign in Atascadero this past year. Vision Atascadero was conceived in January after seven citizens got together to discuss issues that were causing divisiveness within their community. The members felt a need to bring something positive to the community and, after reading a book on the Buy Local campaign, decided that was a good place to start. "Now that the basic structure is in place, we're focused on ideas we pick up locally rather than a model we're trying to emulate," said Bruce Bevans, one of the group's founders. "At this point we're more focused on our own community, what works for us, and what we think we can do."

Vision Atascadero's focus is on educating the public as to the benefits of buying locally and keeping money in the community. "We're trying to raise people's consciousness," Bevans said, so that people don't automatically head for a Big Box store every time they need something. "We're not asking them to buy local out of the goodness of their heart. It's a benefit to the community and themselves." The group is making their presence known through advertising and face-to-face contact with local merchants. Their website, www.visionatascadero.com, discusses the benefits of buying locally and has a list of participating businesses. They also have a list of local artists and links to the artists' websites.

The complete text of this article can be found at www.hopedance.org.

Harvesting One Another
Excerpts from an article published in Central Coast Magazine, October 2007
by Michael Vidor, editor

"Whether in good, bad or iffy times, there is one thing we can do to sustain our quality of life on the Central Coast, regardless what the situation is elsewhere: support local products and services and our neighbors who create them."

. . ."If we're pleased with the diversity of life here, we must support it by spreading wealth around, allowing relative prosperity for every family instead of more for the few, which actually drives the cost of goods up.". . . "One of the more telling signs of success in building strong local commerce will be whether we notice more business people at the local banks making deposits from their small canvas bags, or more Brinks guys carrying big canvas bags out of here."

The full text of Michael Vidor's editorial can be found in the October 2007 issue of Central Coast Magazine.

"Buy Local" is just the plan that Atascadero needs
by Ellen Beraud, Atascadero City Councilperson

Now is the time for all of us to do our part to keep Atascadero strong.

Supporting the "Buy Local" campaign launched last week by a new community group, Vision Atascadero, is a way for all of us to help our city's economy. We are often unaware of the numerous local businesses that are close by and would benefit from our patronage. Many of our local businesses now have an acorn-shaped "Buy Local" logo in their windows. A growing list of local businesses who participate in the "Buy Local" campaign can be found at www.visionatascadero.com.

It's true we can't find everything we need in Atascadero, but let's look here first! We might be surprised at the number of new opportunities out there. It feels good to shop at these stores and use the professional services of our friends and neighbors, knowing we help our community maintain its economic strength.

Locally-owned businesses recycle a larger part of their profits and volunteer their time to our community in the form of donations and community service. In contrast, the majority of money spent at a franchised store leaves town to wherever its corporate headquarters are located. Spending our money with our friends and neighbors has a multiplier effect as more businesses are included, leading to a net increase in our economy.

The current city council is looking for new ways to invigorate our revenue to provide better city services. Loss of sales tax income when locals leave town to shop has been a long-standing problem that won't be solved overnight. We all need to embrace new approaches to old issues and support efforts by citizens who, with no direct benefit to themselves, willingly lend their time and talents.

A strong economy has many pieces, which like a puzzle, all fit together to make a whole. We need a supportive city council to provide the framework of planning policy and attractive infrastructure to entice businesses to our city. We need willing developers who can work with the community to provide the new or remodeled buildings needed for the latest shopping trends. We need both franchises and local entrepreneurs to fill the commercial space, creating destinations for the customers in the community to shop.

If we think locally and work together, we can make Atascadero an even better place to live, work, and shop.

Appeared in The Tribune, September 19, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 10, 2007

INDEPENDENT ATASCADERO CITIZEN GROUP LAUNCHES BUY LOCAL PROGRAM FOR ATASCADERO

Vision Atascadero, a citizen-led effort, has launched the first ever Buy Local program to help stimulate Atascadero's local economy through community-focused purchasing.

Patterned after successful programs in use across the country, Vision Atascadero Buy Local strives to provide education on the advantages of buying from locally owned and operated businesses of all kinds and helps consumers learn which businesses are unique to our community.

The scope of Vision Atascadero Buy Local includes all product, service and retail businesses in Atascadero that meet the following criteria:

• The business has a location in Atascadero;
• The majority owner of the business lives in SLO County;
• If the business has more than one location, that the majority of outlets are in SLO County.

Vision Atascadero is an independent group of Atascadero citizens who want to help make Atascadero an even better place to live. Vision Atascadero's goals are: to foster a greater sense of community in Atascadero; to encourage positive, proactive approaches to community issues; to promote thoughtful, informed citizen involvement in our community; and to educate citizens about local issues.

There is no monetary fee for businesses to join the Buy Local program, only a commitment to help spread the word about the benefits of "putting your money where your house is and keeping Atascadero dollars working harder at home." It is hoped that the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce and the Atascadero Main Street Association will support Buy Local in the effort to build a stronger economic base in our community.

Local businesses are invited to join the Buy Local program in letting the public know about businesses that are unique to our town. Participants in the Buy Local program can display decal in their windows and be listed on the group's Web site (www.visionatascadero.com).

For more information please contact Bruce Bevans at bbevans@visionatascadero.com .

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