Starting a Buy Local Campaign in Your Community

Although we support independent businesses throughout Maine, because of our limited resources and capacity — we are an all-volunteer organization and we hand deliver posters and other materials to our 350+ members several times a year — the Portland Buy Local Campaign is exclusively focused on businesses located in the city of Portland.

If you have a business elsewhere, we encourage you to start a similar initiative in your community. We would be happy to provide advice and share materials to help you get started. Please take a look at the resources below and contact us if you have additional questions or would like to set up a time to talk.

How to Start a Buy Local Campaign
This 4-page factsheet from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance offers tips on how to launch a buy-local campaign in your community.

Buy Local Slide Show
View examples of how communities are promoting the importance of supporting locally owned businesses.

American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA)
Portland Buy Local is affiliated with AMIBA, a national organization that helps Independent Business Alliances start and grow in cities and towns across the country. AMIBA offers on-site workshops, a how-to guidebook, templates, and advice for organizers.
See AMIBA’s Tools for Getting Started.

Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)
BALLE works to catalyze, strengthen, and connect local business networks dedicated to building strong Local Living Economies. BALLE hosts a large national conference every year with tracks on buy-local campaigns.

Why Support Locally Owned Businesses
Studies, flyers, and more to help you make the case for supporting locally owned businesses.