Baltimore, MD – Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance (CSBA) announced support of WBAL-TV 's (Channel 11) newly created Love Local Maryland, a statewide program designed to educate the public about the significant economic and environmental benefits derived from supporting local Maryland businesses.
“Love Local Maryland is a grass roots initiative designed to stimulate economic vitality in the state of Maryland,” said Jordan Wertlieb, President and General Manager of WBAL-TV. “The vibrancy of every local economy is controlled in large part by how and where consumers spend their money. Our goal is to remind Marylanders that together we can make a difference.”
“Based upon data from the US Department of Labor and the US Census Bureau, a 10% shift in consumer purchasing to local business, excluding expenditures for housing, transportation, healthcare, education and pensions; may contribute an amount roughly equal to the stimulus package,” according to Terry Hardcastle, speaking for the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance.
Love Local Maryland will include a series of promotional messages designed to inform Marylanders of the advantage of spending their money locally, to help strengthen the Maryland economy.
Members of local Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations throughout the state of Maryland will display the Love Local Maryland logo on a window decal at their business locations. The window decal and other educational material available to consumers are designed to announce individual business support of the program as well as to remind consumers to support their local merchants. In addition to CSBA, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Maryland Retailers Association and Restaurant Association of Maryland have given their support to the program.
Participating businesses will also have an opportunity to combine their support of Love Local Maryland with a Maryland Green Sustainability Pledge to adopt environmentally sustainable business practices for the benefit of our community, State of Maryland and the planet. Businesses who take part in the pledge, will display an additional window sticker which identifies their commitment to sustainable business practices.
“Both businesses and consumers have common interests in building vibrant, green local economies. By developing Love Local Maryland and Maryland Green, WBAL-TV has uniquely demonstrated its commitment to building a strong and sustainable Maryland economy,” Mr. Hardcastle added.
LoveLocalMaryland.com, the online home for the initiative and under construction, will be the new place for Marylanders to go for the latest information on how to buy local and make a difference, providing an interactive way for consumers to search for local businesses based on location, industry or services. All commercials and support materials for the program will be produced in Maryland.
