The Clintonville Natural Foods Co-op has become our first local business to adopt our Think Columbus First “Round Up” campaign.
When shopping at the Natural Foods Co-op, customers will now find specially labeled containers during checkout. By choosing to drop some change or an extra dollar or two, they know they will be supporting the work of our grassroots’ coalition: Support Our Local Economy (SOLE).
The Round Up campaign was launched at CrestFest
Co-op members will also have the option of donating their discount at the Market. For example, if a Co-op member buys $30 worth of groceries and donates his or her 5% discount then $1.50 will be entered through a special code that diverts the donation to the SOLE account.
By using the new “Round Up” we are now contributing on another level to the local businesses we are all striving to support.
SOLE’s founding member organizations include the Small Business Beanstalk/SBB (Buy Local); Local Matters (Eat Local); the Economic and Community Development Institute /ECDI (Invest Local); Kemba Financial Credit Union (Bank Local); and Simply Living (Live Local).
This coalition will continue to promote effective strategies which will educate our community about the benefits of a strong local economy. SOLE’s Think Columbus First campaign encourages a 10% shift from chain to local businesses. This plan will create 5000 new jobs in Franklin County by keeping more than $300 million dollars circulating locally. Contributions to SOLE are tax deductible, and anyone may donate on the SOLE or the Think Columbus First (thinkcolumbusfirst.org) website.