Buy Local program takes on new identity as Be Local Network
The Buy Local Network is being taken to the next level by the Herald-Standard, WMBS Radio and Fayette County Community Action Agency Partnership as it officially becomes the Be Local Network.
The media partners’ first, weekly educational series launches today focusing on the Be Local mission as well as profiling businesses and their impact on communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.
Changes to the program include a redesigned logo, rebranding and new mission of, “Thinking, Buying, Investing,” geared to educate residents and businesses on the importance of being local.
“It’s all about educating and through our news stories and articles each week we want to emphasize the impact that buying locally has,” said Clint Rhodes, Herald-Standard Be Local coordinator.
As part of the transition, the partnership will manage and build on the educational aspect of a nine-year endeavor that initially involved the Herald-Standard and Fay-Penn Economic Development Council.
“This really is a prime opportunity for us as a media company to embrace the program,” said Rhodes.
Robert Pinarski, Herald-Standard publisher, said Uniontown Newspapers and WMBS will serve as the program’s media arm while the partnership will combine print, broadcast and digital operations to educate the community.
“I’m excited and thrilled to be working with WMBS and Community Action in partnership taking the successful Buy Local program to the next level in becoming Be Local,” said Pinarski.
A major change to the program, said Pinarski, is the focus to educate the public on the importance of not only buying local, but now thinking local, buying local and investing local, and to ultimately Be Local.
“Our locally-owned and operated corporations, businesses and organizations contribute so much to the prosperity of our local community,” said Pinarski.
Rhodes said the program is a “natural fit” for the Herald-Standard and an extension of Calkin’s Media mission statement to derive new service and information that enable our communities and their local businesses to grow.
“It’s our local businesses that really define our community,” said Rhodes. “It gives us our own character and our own identity, so it’s important to strengthen that when we shop and buy local.”
Currently, Rhodes said the program has about 100 participating businesses, that includes about 15 in Greene County, with the goal to double that number by next year.
To raise awareness of Be Local, the Herald-Standard and Greene County Messenger will run a weekly series on the business page aimed to communicate with various markets on the different aspects of why it’s important to think local.
WMBS will also continue its talk show “Locally Yours,” that airs from 11:15 to noon each Friday.
The show is hosted by Bob Junk, sales and marketing director at Republic Food Enterprise Center headed by Community Action, and former Buy Local program director at Fay-Penn.
Brian Mroziak, WMBS general manager, said the show provides businesses in the Be Local Network with the opportunity to showcase their services and involvement in the community. Local events are also announced.
Also, the “Be Local Buzz” page will continue to run in the Herald-Standard the fourth Sunday of each month featuring more educational content.
“This will be the platform used to profile business members,” said Pinarski.
Junk said Be Local is intended to send a message that buying local is more than just buying retail.
As the partnership takes over the program, Junk said there is more opportunity to expand the focus between business and the community through public awareness.
“Where we spend will drive what our neighborhoods and communities look like,” said Junk.
Corporate sponsors of the program such as Uniontown Hospital, Laurel Business Institute, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, Office Source, and Shumar’s Welding and Machine Service are equally important on supporting the educational efforts of the program, Pinarski said.
While they can’t provide discounts with the Buy Local card because they are not retailers, Pinarski said their support is essential to the prosperity of the communities.
“They believe in the program and the efforts that we’re putting forward in educating the market on what these businesses do to help the communities,” said Pinarski.
Rhodes said current Buy Local cards are still available and can be used until the end of December.