Letter from Board Chair

Welcome to the 2011 edition of the Buffalo First All-Local Coupon Book. The coupons are here to encourage you to try out a business that you may not have used before, as well as to offer you savings at some of your favorite local establishments.

We offer this book as a starting place for strengthening our local economy. In that process, our purchasing power is the most familiar and easiest-to-use tool we have, but the concept of economic sustainability, however, is more complicated that simply where we buy our “stuff.” Buffalo First’s mission goes beyond our Buy Local First initiatives – we are part of a growing worldwide movement that seeks to create a global network of vibrant, fair, sustainable, citizenempowered local economies.

When a local economy has the direct participation of its citizens, it is able to do more than simply support local businesses and producers – it supports the wellbeing of every person in the area by providing the things that really matter, things like clean air and water, nutritious food, comfortable housing, safe neighborhoods, meaningful employment at a decent wage, quality education, arts and entertainment, adequate public infrastructure, public recreation…the list goes on and on.

Our journey to a local economy starts with an awareness of locally owned businesses. It progresses with active participation by all of its citizens. Each person, in addition to the role of consumer or business owner (hopefully both!) plays the role active participant by staying informed on the issues in their community, such as urban food systems, neighborhood revitalization, renewable energy, waterfront development, zoning and land use, local codes and legislations, and use of government money. All these issues have a great impact on the health and vitality of our local economy, and active participants can help improve and maintain the different aspects of these issues. Average people making thoughtful decisions and thoughtful actions can create a stable and vibrant economy that serves everyone in it.

Buffalo First as an organization will also be progressing past our first steps. We support B-Labs’ work in developing tools for businesses to measure their environmental and social impact. We will be working with partners throughout New York State to pass legislation allowing for the creation of a new type of corporation, a Benefit Corporation or B-Corp, which will be accountable to a triple bottom line: environmental sustainability, social benefits and monetary profit. We are forming partnerships with other local non-profit groups and building our citizen membership base, steps that will enable Buffalo First to be a focal point for education and grassroots action. Our ultimate goal is to provide the guidance and resources for building an economy that is local, sustainable and just.

While we will continue to help folks take their own first steps by being a source of information on locally owned businesses, we encourage everyone to become a member of Buffalo First and an active participant in the Western New York economy!

Kelly Maurer
2010 Board Chair, Buffalo First

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