Think Local First
Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte, CO
Shop. Eat. Live. Think Local.
Welcome
Welcome to the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Think Local First Program!
Crested Butte is a paradise rich in character with an authentic sense of place. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, we are surrounded by breathtaking snow-covered peaks and clear rivers- part of what makes this special place ‘Colorado’s last great ski town.’
Our unique shops, restaurants and services are an integral part of the character Crested Butte, and our locally owned businesses reflect the genuine personality of our community and our locals. The vibrant western heritage of our historic downtown is alive with culture, defining the distinctness of our one-of-a-kind community and complementing the gateways into the great outdoors.
Think Local First Farm to Table Dinner, Aug. 14
Raise money for Think Local First! A gourmet menu will be prepared from area ingredients by Chef Tim Egelhoff and enjoyed from the creekside deck of his Timberline Restaurant in Crested Butte. Attendees not only will dine on the freshest of foods and local wines, they will find out more about the importance of supporting local farmers, the health benefits of eating local, sustainable choices and more. For more information, ticket prices and reservations, contact the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce at (970) 349-6438. All proceeds benefit Think Local First.
About
The Mission of Think Local First is to strengthen economic prosperity in the Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte communities by encouraging residents and visitors to spend their money in the local economy, while simultaneously making sustainable choices in the areas of economic impact and food and energy consumption.
Our vision is to promote the Think Local First campaign within the community by educating and increasing public awareness about the benefits of thinking local, thus affecting consumers’ buying decisions in favor of spending their money in the local economy and making sustainable choices when and where they can.
Mission & History
Top 10 Reasons to Think Local First
Frequently Asked Questions
Community
Programs & Events
25on25-On March 25, locals and tourists alike are being asked to spend $25 locally.Spend your $25 locally instead of online or out of town.
TLF Community Advisory Committee- Our dedicated group of business owners and non-profit leaders continue to discuss ways that other communities are weathering the economic storm by providing tax breaks and incentives to locally owned businesses. We are also researching how we can encourage the sourcing of local bids and employment of local people as well as how to keep Crested Butte unique by highlighting local businesses, products and services.
Chamber Checks: a Community Gift Certificate- Chamber Checks are available at the Visitor Center/Chamber offices and can be used like a gift certificate at all Chamber-member businesses that accept them.
Butte Bucks- Crested Butte's form of local currency, available to the consumer at a 20% discount and redeemable at over 50 local businesses. The Chamber of Commerce currently runs a Butte Bucks program in the summer and during the winter holidays season.
Crested Butte Farmers Market- Think Local First works closely with our Farmers Market and will host a weekly booth at the 2010 market.
Buy Local Week- The innaugural Buy Local Week will be November 26-December 3, 2010.
Get Involved
There are many ways that you can incorporate Think Local First into the success of your business and its role in the community:
Put a Think Local First sticker in the window of your business or car, on your bike, helmet and skis-the sky’s the limit!
Display the biannual Think Local First posters in your business
Market the fact that you are a locally owned business- include the Think Local First logo in your advertisements and on your website
Link to www.cbthinklocalfirst.com on your website
Thank your customers for supporting a local, independently owned business
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Talk to your friends, neighbors, family members and employees about the importance of Thinking Local First
Encourage fellow business owners to provide competitive products and pricing- do the same with your business
Identify goods or services that you typically do not purchase locally and see if there is a local solution
Utilize the Chamber of Commerce when looking for a product or service
Write a letter to the editor about the importance of Thinking Local First
Become a Think Local First Partner- we are funded entirely by partnerships, donations and grants.
There are many ways that you can incorporate Think Local First into your business’ success and role in the community:
Put a Think Local First sticker in the window of your business or car, on your bike, helmet, skis… the sky’s the limit!
Volunteer
Donate
Partners
Many thanks to our partners, without whom this program couldn't have come to life:
Local Legends:
Local Heroes:
Local Champions: Community Banks of Colorado
Crested Butte Savings & Loan, Crested Butte Farmers Market, VS Designs
Butte Bucks Sponsors: The Crested Butte Bank
Want to be a partner? Download our information form and application:
partnerships
Local Business Directory
Click here for our local business directory
Links
Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce
Crested Butte Farmers Market
Local Farms First
Office for Resource Efficiency
The 3/50Project
American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA)
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)
Sustainable Connections
Contact Us
For more information about the Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Think Local First Program or our Community Advisory Committee, please contact the Chamber of Commerce:
601 Elk Avenue
Crested Butte, CO 81224
(970) 349-6438
or send an email to kristen_cbchamber.com
2010 Summer Internship
Think Local First is a new program and the sky is the limit for new ideas, programs and charitable involvement. We are looking for an eager and devoted candidate who wishes to be a part of a program that gives back to the community by supporting economic development and sustainable choices.
Internship Description:
This internship is a part-time position with Sundays mandatory; other days and times flexible and negotiable. Non-paid; course credit available upon approval from WSC.
The applicant must:
- Show an interest in the mission and vision of Think Local First, and must be personable, organized, dependable and professional.
-Represent the mission of Think Local First as a Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce representative.
-Help with Think Local First events and event planning including a Sustainable Business Practices Seminar, Crested Butte Restaurant Week, Farm to Table Fundraiser, Community Garden involvement with the Youth Council and Paradise Food Project.
-Work at the Think Local First Tent at the Farmers Market on Sundays from June 13-Sept. 5 (some date conflicts can be negotiated).
-Research funding possibilities for Think Local First.
-Research event/program options for Think Local First.
Contact: Kristen Van Hoesen, Operations & Membership Relations Manager, The Crested Butte/Mt. Crested Butte Chamber of Commerce, Kristen_cbchamber.com
Top 10 Reasons to
1.Support Yourself:Studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms, thus strengthening the economic base of our community.
2.Keep Crested Butte Unique:Where we shop, where we eat and where we have fun is what makes our community our home. One-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the character of Crested Butte. They’re a major reason why we’re here and why tourists come to visit.
3.Enhance Community Well-Being:Locally owned businesses build strong neighborhoods by sustaining communities, linking neighbors and contributing to local causes. Local ownership means that important decisions are made by people who live here, voted here and are locally accountable for their decisions.
4.Encourage Local Character and Prosperity:Business owners are our neighbors, families and friends. Most of them live here, shop here and send their children to school here. They are less likely to leave and more invested in our community.
5.Keep Dollars in the Local Economy:Put your tax dollars to good use and see them in action. Of every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 remains in the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. An increase in local sales tax means more funding for town projects and services, infrastructure, parks and recreation and education.
6.Sustain the Environment:Crested Butte’s stores and services are already here and they’re close. Utilizing local resources reduces environmental impact by saving time and gas and reducing air and water pollution.
7.Support Your Community Organizations:Non-profits receive on average three times greater support from smaller, locally owned businesses than they do from larger businesses. Non-profits are a vital part of our community, improving the quality of life for everyone.
8.Receive Better Customer Service:Locals hire locals, who have a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers and their needs.\
9.Promote Better Jobs and Wages:Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and, in our community, account for the majority of jobs. On average, they provide better wages and benefits than chains.
10.Get What You Need:A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products, not on a national sales plan, but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, provides a broad range of product choices that fit your needs.
How do you Think Local First?
