Quigley Honors Local First Chicago, Lake View Chambers Participate

Local businesses are the strengths of a community, according to U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley. 

The North Side representative endorsed shopping in the neighborhood this holiday season, and honored the nonprofit Local First Chicago on Nov. 30. 

"The impact that independent, locally-owned businesses have in our community comes as no surprise," he said. "The lasting economic, social and environmental outcomes are essential to the growth and sustainability of our neighborhoods."

Local First Chicago is a nonprofit organization that aims to educate residents and community groups about the impact of supporting local businesses. Created in 2005, Local First Chicago is the brainchild behind Unwrap Chicago, an incentive to shift a small portion of holiday spending to local stores. 

And two local chambers of commerce are already doing it:

Lakeview East Chamber

Collect $300 in receipts from a minimum of three East Lake View businesses and receive a $50 gift card, no strings attached. Just bring your receipts in to the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce before Dec. 21 at noon to receive your loyalty prize. 

You have to spend at least $25 at the store, and can only spend $100 on groceries or liquor to be eligable. Also, there are no prescriptions or memberships allowed. Check out their site to see the long list of eligable businesses. 

Lakeview Chamber

In their SHOP Lakeview program, the Lakeview Chamber is also offering $50 for every $300 spent at a minimum of five participating merchants. Whether dinners on Lincoln or a haircut on Southport, computer repairs on Ashland or a massage on Belmont, your receipts will add up before you know it.

Mail or deliver your receipts to the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce by Dec. 31 to receive your $50 in SHOP Lakeview dollars!

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A 2004 study in Andersonville compared the amount of every dollar that goes back into the economy for both local and chain businesses.

Researchers found $68 out of every $100 spent in a local business went back into the Chicago economy. That’s compared to a chain store, where $43 of every $100 remained in the community.

Residents can also take a pledge to shift least $100 of their holiday shopping to a local business this winter. If every one of the 1,045,560 households in Chicago kept the pledge, more than $25 million would be shifted back into the economy, according to the study.

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