Local First Vermont, a program of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility, has welcomed Brattleboro to the seventh edition of its popular Buy Local Resource Guide and Coupon Book, which promotes locally owned businesses and offers coupons as an incentive for Vermonters to buy local.
The six Brattleboro businesses participating in this year's book are: Brattleboro Food Co-op, Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, Dutton Berry Farmstand, Ruggles & Hunt, Everyone's Books, and Latchis Theatre and Hotel, according to a news release.
Studies show that local businesses reinvest three times more of each dollar spent back into the local community, strengthening the local economy, according to Wendy Wilson, manager of the Local First Vermont program.
The Buy Local Book features resources pages, local stories, merchant profiles and the main attraction: 235 coupons valued at $3,000 at some of Vermont's locally owned businesses - all for $20.
Last year VBSR sold about 6,500 copies of the book through local merchants and school groups. The Buy Local Book fundraiser helped school groups raise more than $25,000 in 2015, according to the news release.
The Buy Local Book is available at Everyone's Books and the Brattleboro Food Co-op for $20. Coupons are good through Sept. 1, 2017. There also is a Local First Vermont mobile app, compatible with iOS and Android phones and tablets. Vermonters can download the app at no charge through the App Store and Google Play. There is a $20 fee to activate more than 230 coupons.
Locally owned business interested in joining this year's app and next year's book and app can contact Local First Vermont at [email protected].