We are a small business marketing nonprofit that bolsters Columbia County’s economy by persuading residents and visitors to shop, taste, play, and choose local first.
Throughout the year, we organize seasonal events and campaigns to boost local commerce. For instance, our 2022 Keep it Local for the Holidays campaign captured $559,600 in local spending.
Because we strive to build community connections, we are proud to offer this website; which is Columbia County's largest online directory of local businesses, organizations, and events.
The money you spend at the local independent businesses continues to circulate in our community, benefiting you and your neighbors while also supporting a healthy tax base. Studies have also shown that when you use independent, locally owned businesses significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers, and farms.
Locally owned independent businesses, on average, provide much larger donations in support of local non-profits and school organizations. They care about the community they live and work in, and want to make a difference by donating to the organizations that improve the quality of life for our community members and our children.
Locally owned independent businesses, on average, provide much larger donations in support of local non-profits and school organizations. They care about the community they live and work in, and want to make a difference by donating to the organizations that improve the quality of life for our community members and our children.
We were created because we saw a leakage problem and wanted to offer a solution. What’s leaking? Well, 73% of Columbia County residents commute out-of-county for work daily, which causes significant local commerce leakage. In fact, in a 2015 Ford Family Foundation study, we found the county was losing $200 million in retail sales a year due to out-of-county spending. Additionally, we found shoppers expressed desire to support local businesses but lacked information about where to find them. In response, our nonprofit was created in 2015 in a grassroots effort led by community members to help prevent commerce leakage and connect local businesses to consumers.
To bridge this gap, we first created a online directory to list all of Columbia County’s businesses in one place. We have since expanded our efforts by upgrading that directory (to you’re looking at now!), we do social media promotion, and we offer seasonal events to further support local commerce and Promote local business. Our holiday campaign alone has captured nearly 1.3 million in local spending over the past 6 years, and our social media platforms have reached over 224,000 views. Overall, we strive to empower our community to choose local first, with inclusive programming offered to all local businesses. In turn, this cultivates a vibrant, sustainable, and thriving local economy.
Interested in supporting our important efforts & getting promoted? Check out these opportunities:
We couldn’t do the work we do without the support of the CET, who makes our program possible. CET’s missions is to promote the creation, retention, growth, and attraction of business and industry in Columbia County.
Columbia County, Oregon, April 25, 2022 – Keep it Local Columbia County, a popular small business promotion and marketing program that encourages people to shop,
Clatskanie, Oregon—February 28, 2022: (A Message from the Clatskanie Farmers Market) Help us build the Clatskanie Food Hub! We’re asking for your generous support to
It’s 2/22/2022 at 2:22pm! To celebrate Twos-day, in no particular order, we have 22 reasons why to shop local in Columbia County! 1) Every dollar
Add your business, non-profit, organization, or event to our directory for free.
