Mayor Keller Celebrates Small Business Saturday, Kicks Off ‘Buy Local’ Month

Nov. 27, 2021

Mayor Keller and the City of Albuquerque celebrated Small Business Saturday and kicked off Buy Local Month by visiting local businesses and shopping along Central Avenue. Mayor Keller declared December ‘Buy Local Month’ for the third year, encouraging residents to support local businesses during the holidays, and year-round.

In 2018, the City launched the nationally-recognized Buy Local initiative. It is a two-fold effort that encourages the community to make conscious decisions to support locally-owned businesses and calls on City departments to award City contracts to local vendors. Through this initiative, over $7 million in contracts have been brought back to Albuquerque and awarded to local businesses.

“We came out today to show support for our local small businesses and keep pushing toward a robust recovery from the pandemic,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Buying local is one of the easiest ways to build a stronger local economy for years to come.”

The City’s Economic Development Department (EDD) also launched a multimedia campaign this week to promote buying local in Albuquerque, including advertising in local publications, social media, videos, and outdoor billboards. The campaign encourages residents to dine at locally-owned restaurants, buy gift cards from local businesses, shop at local stores online, attend Shop and Stroll shopping events, and when in doubt, ask a friend for local recommendations.

“For every $100 that someone chooses to spend at a local Albuquerque business, $68 stays in our local economy, compared to only $43 if the money is spent outside the city or at larger retailers,” said Damian R. Lara, Interim Director of the Economic Development Department. “When we support local businesses, it has a ripple effect and lifts up our city’s families, and boosts our small business ecosystem.”

Local businesses and supporters can request a “#BuyLocalABQ” sticker, and find more information about the Buy Local Initiative at cabq.gov/buylocal.