Reader Note From Rockville REDI: ‘Buy Rockville’ A Municipal Model
Nov 10, 2010 8:48 - 2 Comments
By Lynne Benzion, Associate Director of Rockville REDI:
Recently, I had the enjoyable experience of partnering with Rockville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Andrea Jolly to present “Starting and Maintaining a Buy Local Program” to the Maryland Municipal League (MML) annual conference.
Rockville Economic Development, Inc. (REDI) started the “Buy Rockville” program in 2008 as a response to the recession’s heavy impact on Rockville’s retail and restaurants. Since then, we have fielded quite a few calls and e-mails asking us to share our experience so that others could start their own Buy Local programs. Being asked by MML to detail our first-hand knowledge to a state-wide audience was great recognition of Rockville’s reputation of leadership.
Mayor Marcuccio, Lynne Benzion, Andrea Jolly and Linda Moran at MML Conference
Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio (who is on the MML Board of Directors) introduced our presentation; Assistant to the City Manager Linda Moran was also in the audience. I explained that the “Buy Rockville” program builds awareness within the Rockville community that buying local has a huge economic effect. In fact, when you buy local, the money you spend circulates six to eight times within the community before it leaves. Our purchasing decisions give each of us an opportunity to have a significant economic impact.
I described to the audience the program’s birth out of REDI’s annual Business Appreciation Week, its quick implementation through our partnership with the Rockville Living website, and REDI’s newest initiative, “Bid Rockville”. Through this effort, we encourage Rockville businesses and residents to seek out a Rockville company bid whenever they buy a product or service. After all, it’s hard to “Buy Rockville” if you don’t “Bid Rockville”!
Andrea Jolly described how the Rockville Chamber of Commerce took the lead on “Buy Rockville” after the initial holiday push in 2008. The Chamber turned a quick program into a lasting effort that included a Restaurant Week and a brand new “Buy Rockville Rewards Card” that will allow consumers discounts at local merchants while also financially benefitting local non-profit organizations. (See www.RockvilleRewards.com to learn more, or to sign up your business to participate in the program. Businesses may also attend a program on November 18 to learn more; visit www.RockvilleChamber.org for details.)
After our presentation, Andrea and I got the ultimate compliment: several audience members told us that they would like to learn more. We are happy to share, and to represent a community that supports its businesses. During this holiday season and year-round, we hope you’ll continue to consider your hometown first, visit www.BuyRockville.org, and “Bid Rockville, Buy Rockville”.
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Lynne, congrats on your presentation and thank you for all the fine work that you, REDI Director Sally Sternach and your staff do to help Rockville businesses and citizens. You surely are a “municipal model!”
I see the mayor smiling broadly in this photo. Yet, if she had prevailed earlier this year in her attempt to have REDI’s three-year-contract not renewed, you would have gone out of business yourselves on July 1! Thankfully, hers was the lone `no’ vote.
REDI’s budget is also being considered now, and the Councilmember Newton have both expressed an interest in cutting your funding. This would be a mistake.
I found the following document quite interesting. You can look at see how often the Mayor seems to be out of synch with her fellow members of the council.
http://rockmail.rockvillemd.gov/clerk/egenda.nsf/d5c6a20307650f4a852572f9004d38b8/871ebab8f3d6d258852577c10064c19c/$FILE/AttachmentA_SummarySurveys.pdf
apologies–my third sentence should have read:
REDI’s budget is also being considered now, and the Mayor and Councilmember Newton have both expressed an interest in cutting your funding.