SC STUDENTS URGE RESIDENTS TO `BUY LOCAL'

SCOTT CITY -- Tonight, the Scott City Council will address the need for a sales tax increase to generate the funds to make necessary repairs to city streets.

All next week -- Feb. 28 through March 5 -- Scott City High School students plan to do what they can to stimulate the city's economy, by encouraging residents to "Buy Local."

For the third straight year, members of the Future Business Leaders of America club at the Scott City High School, have assembled a Buy Local booklet which features area businesses and the services they provide.

"During the Buy Local campaign, we try to make consumers aware of the tax revenues lost to the city when residents take their business elsewhere," said Pat Andrews, a teacher at Scott City High School and coordinator of the Buy Local campaign. "We realize that it is not feasible for Scott City residents to buy everything they need locally, but sometimes citizens need to make a more conscious effort to buy what they can right here at home."

The over 100 members of the FBLA organization at the high school will distribute about 2,200 booklets to Scott City residents this weekend. Extra booklets will be available at businesses supporting the Buy Local campaign.

The booklets contain information about area businesses, advertisements, specials being run by businesses during the Buy Local campaign and, this year, Buy Local Bucks.

"Some of the businesses will give customers Buy Local Bucks for every $10 or $20 purchase they make -- it all depends on the business -- that the customer will be able to spend during the Buy Local week like regular money," said Andrews. "The Buy Local Bucks was a new twist we thought we'd try this year. It is being left to the discretion of the 10 or so businesses who are doing it, as to how the bucks will be dispersed, but it will be to the benefit of the customer."

The booklet is designed by high school students during their free time and after school. The booklets were sent off to be printed Monday and will return ready for assembly by Wednesday.

"When we first started this project, we felt it would be a good way to give something back to the business community, which has been so supportive of its school system," said Andrews. "When you own a business in a small community like Scott City, you get hit up for donations all the time.

"Local businesses have been more than generous in their support of school projects, scholarships and even buying advertisements in the yearbook," she continued. "This is a way for us to shine a light on them for a week; make people aware of the businesses we have right here in Scott City."

Since the Buy Local program's inception three years ago, the FBLA has won state and national awards for its design and success.

"This is something the students can really be proud of," said Andrews. "It involves the school with the community for the benefit of both."

Businesses supporting the Buy Local campaign will have signs posted in the storefront windows throughout the week. Residents are encouraged to spend at least one week doing their shopping "at home."

"When we support our area businesses, we support the health of our city," said Andrews. "For the past few years there has been a big push to `Buy American.' So why not urge residents to Buy Local?"