SM CHAMBER ANNUAL BUY LOCAL EXPO

City of Santa Monica Declares Official “Buy Local Weekend” March 17 and 18  

Local Businesses Offer Specials and Incentives for Consumers to Purchase In Their Neighborhood

Weekend Festivities will be Highlighted by the Buy Local EXPO on Saturday, March 17 from 11a.m. - 4p.m. on Third Street Promenade

(Santa Monica, CA; February 27, 2012) – Presented in partnership with the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Santa Monica and the City of Santa Monica, the official “Buy Local Weekend” will take place on March 17 and 18 throughout Santa Monica. Restaurants, hotels, retail stores and vendors will offer specials throughout the weekend encouraging consumers and visitors to spend locally.  The weekend will be highlighted by the second annual Buy Local EXPO on Saturday, March 17 from 11a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Third Street Promenade with over 80 local vendors and food booths, interactive activities and live music and entertainment on two stages. Additionally, many businesses will offer specials on www.BuyLocalSM.com/buylocalweekend and a portion of the proceeds will go to support local schools.

“Buying locally is more than a choice, it supports our local economy,” said Laurel Rosen, President, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce.  “ The goal of this event is to celebrate our local business, and get people feeling good about shopping locally and rewarding them for doing it.”

Various neighborhoods will also offer specials and activities as part of Buy Local Weekend including an Airport Art Walk at Santa Monica Airport from 12-5p.m. and Sidewalk Sales at participating retailers on Main Street, Montana Avenue, Pico Boulevard, Ocean Park Boulevard and in Downtown Santa Monica, live music on Main Street, as well as the Saturday Farmers Markets on Arizona Avenue (at 3rd St) and at Virginia Avenue Park.  Consumers and visitors can show their receipts from purchases and be entered into a raffle to win a $1,000 shopping spree.   There will also be a Buy Local citywide scavenger hunt, which will be launched at the Buy Local EXPO on Saturday.

“Buying locally reduces our city's carbon footprint and encourages residents to shop closer to home and work,” said Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Administrator for The City of Santa Monica.  “It also builds a strong community by encouraging people to discover and appreciate their local, neighborhood-serving businesses and to get to know their neighbors.”

A complete list of businesses, activities and specials for Buy Local Weekend will be available online at http://www.buylocalsantamonica.com/buylocalweekend.

The Buy Local EXPO is presented by the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Santa Monica and the City of Santa Monica in partnership with the Santa Monica-Malibu Education Foundation. Sponsors include The Bradmore Group, YP.com (yellowpages.com), Whole Foods, Santa Monica Place, NMS Properties, Patch.com, Yellow Taxi Cab Co., Eva Varro, Morley Builders, Union Bank, Block Beacon, Santa Monica Daily Press and the Santa Monica Mirror.

For more information, please visit http://www.smchamber.com/buylocalexpo.

About Buy Local:

Buy Local Santa Monica was created by representatives of the Santa Monica business community and the City of Santa Monica to support local businesses and raise awareness of the community, economic and social benefits of choosing to purchase goods and services locally.  For more information, please visit www.buylocalsm.com.

About Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce:

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce advocates and represents business' interests and issues affecting the community. They provide the environment to help members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organization. For more information, please visit www.smchamber.com

About Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM, Inc.):

Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. is a private non-profit 501c(3) that works with the City of Santa Monica to manage services and operations in Downtown Santa Monica that promote economic stability, growth and community life within Downtown Santa Monica. DTSM, Inc. manages the Property-based Business Assessment District (PBAD) that encompasses the area bounded by Ocean Avenue (W), Wilshire Boulevard (N), 7th Court (E) and the Santa Monica Freeway (S).  Downtown Santa Monica is a popular Southern California coastal destination, minutes from the Pacific Ocean beaches. The area, which includes the world-famous Third Street Promenade and the newly re-opened Santa Monica Place shopping center, is known for its weekly farmers markets, fabulous dining, shopping, entertainment and street performers. For more information, please visit www.downtownsantamonica.com or www.facebook.com/downtownsantamonica.