Greg Lawless has been named the first executive director of Dane Buy Local, a network of locally owned, independent businesses that has grown to nearly 450 members.
What attracted early adopters of the Dane Buy Local Idea?
• Importance of local ownership and purchasing • Supporting small business practices and ethics • Sense of community • Desire to learn • Belonging and inclusion • Sustainability • Respect • Value of uniqueness vs. sameness • Commitment to future generations • Better quality of life for all • Building social and economic capital
In 2005, Jeff Milchen of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) spoke at a small business forum hosted by Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz. After letting Mayor Dave and Jeff know that we had a fledgling effort already started right here in Madison we were granted a couple of minutes to describe the initiative for the audience and then asked for volunteers. As a result, we hooked up with a couple of talented people who volunteered to do our initial web programming and design. The look of the website quickly became our hallmark. “Friendly Faces, Neighborhood Places” posters started showing up on storefronts around Madison.
Dane Buy Local had the good fortune of engaging business community pacesetters from the beginning who worked to draft mission and values statements as well as organizing strategies. Mayor Dave and County Executive Kathleen Falk have publicly commended Dane Buy Local and we're fortunate that they push local purchasing policies.
Today we have over 440 members and are proud that Dane Buy Local is one of many successful buy local initiatives nationwide. Keeping members engaged through bimonthly breakfast meetings and evening socials has kept our momentum going. Member surveys and educational seminars are offered as additional means to engage and help businesses learn how to become more successful. Our challenge now is to keep up with our members and stay ahead of the wave of interest.
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Testimonials
Supporting local businesses and promoting the local economy is an important part of the Sustainable Times’ mission and focus. I therefore welcome the very existence of Dane Buy Local as an invaluable contribution to those same goals. On a more practical level Dane Buy Local has proven to be a great resource for the Sustainable Times, from e...
Create good places to work: We want work life to reflect home town friendliness and familiarity. Treating our employees well is part of our community commitment.
"A local economy values the real over the virtual. An investment on a computer screen is one thing; an investment in a company in your hometown quite another." --Woody Tasch, Founder, Slow Money
Originally known as the Dane County Buy Local Initiative, Dane Buy Local was founded in 2004 as a program of 
