Show-Me State Times

In anticipation of the holiday season, Greater St. Louis, Inc., through its STLMade initiative, has launched the 2024 Love Local campaign. The campaign aims to encourage shopping at local small businesses across the St. Louis metro area.

The focus on supporting and strengthening small businesses is seen as crucial for driving inclusive economic growth in the region. Small businesses make up most firms in the area and employ nearly half of the metro's workforce. According to the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, creating a robust small business ecosystem that supports entrepreneurs is vital for both business success and regional economic development.

Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., emphasized the importance of community support: “The goal of Love Local is to rally the support and dollars of everyone in our community behind our small businesses and showcase the role we all play in growing St. Louis.” He further stated, “We want to make sure people across the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro know that when we spend here, it stays here."

Hall also highlighted how spending at local businesses benefits broader community initiatives: "Small businesses are the backbone of our community and our economy," he said. "Every dollar someone spends at a small business in their community not only helps that business grow; it also helps that business support local parks, youth sports teams, and any number of initiatives and organizations in their community that strengthen the very fabric of our region.”

The Love Local campaign will run through Small Business Saturday weekend and includes various forms of advertising such as broadcast media, social media, outdoor ads, print advertising, and newspaper ads across metro-wide chambers of commerce regions.

Additionally, a web page provides ideas for shopping locally while a toolkit offers resources for small business owners with downloadable graphics (including customizable options), videos, posters, and stickers to promote involvement in the Love Local movement.