The time has come for New Englanders to take a stand for local economic independence!  The national and global economy has failed to live up to its promise of providing stable livelihoods and has placed our communities and our precious environment in great peril.  Locally owned and independent businesses (Local Independents) demonstrate every day that the closer to home we do business, the more our communities and the local economy benefit.  Several studies provide unambiguous evidence that when we buy from Local Independents (instead of non-locally owned businesses) the "Local Multiplier" is set in motion and local economic activity grows by as much as three-fold.

This is the opening paragraph of the New England Declaration of Local Independents, which calls on citizens, businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies to sign the 10% Shift Pledge and agree to shift 10% of their purchases from non-local businesses to Local Independents.

Making this modest behavior change will have a transformative impact on New England. Several studies have detailed the significant influence a 10% shift would have on local economies: significant economic growth, major job creation, and stronger Local Independents.   

The 10% Shift is a New England-wide campaign led by a collaborative of several local business organizations (including SBN, Cambridge Local First, and Somerville Local First) representing every state in New England.  It is the first regional campaign that links citizens with Local Independents around the importance of buying local.

Visit 10percentshift.org for more information.