The CRIBA Blog :: Live Local, Buy Local » Albany NY

Announcing: The Black Friday Challenge

Justin Cresswell — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:22:20 +0000

The Capital Region Independent Business Alliance is proud to announce our first ever Black Friday Challenge.

What’s the challenge? Make Black Friday GREEN! Take the holiday dollars you plan to spend this year – especially on Black Friday – and focus on spending them with local retailers and restaurants. We’re creating a free, on-line directory of local retailers and restaurants at CapitalRegion.com, so whether you’re a retailer or a consumer – we want to hear from you today at CapitalRegion.com! Its free, it’s easy, and it’s waiting for you now.

Consumers – Fill our our on-line form for consumer information, and we will notify you as local shopping info develops this Christmas.

Retailers – Fill out our on-line form for retailers, and we will add your information free of charge.

How does this make the day Green, you ask? Great question! This works for all of us in two big ways.

For the environment – Spending with local independent businesses is good for the environment. Local, community-based businesses are human-sized. They consume less land, carry more locally-made products, locate closer to residents and create less traffic and air pollution.

For the economy – Green is also the color of money, right? Every dollar we spend at locally owned, independent businesses returns 3 times more money to our local economy than one dollar spent at a chain or a big box giant.

The bottom line is this – how your spend your money makes a real difference for all of us, no matter who you are. Take five minutes today and do your part at CapitalRegion.com.

Jennings: The City of Albany is open for business.

Justin Cresswell — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:46:55 +0000

Speaking of downtown Albany, Mayor Jerry Jennings said “We have an inventory of every building that’s down there.” See what else he said.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO0UJ4oBlIY]

Addressing the Group: Albany Mayor Jennings

Justin Cresswell — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:48:46 +0000

“I know the importance of small local business.”

“The City of Albany is open for business. If anyone wants to sit with me, sit with our economic development people, we’re open. . . We do need more retail. . .we want to diversify even further.”

“I need retail to support the residential.”

“Don’t be shy. Call us up.”

Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings just arrived.

Justin Cresswell — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:22:53 +0000

He’ll be doing his weekly radio show from here. He and Paul Vendenburgh wasted no time in busting each other’s chops. Julie Chapman from Capital News 9 also stopped in for breakfast and to soak up the event.