Buy319 campaign begins Sunday, 3/19

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Buy319 program launches Sunday — 3/19 on the calendar — to promote year-round, buy-local efforts.

The business-to-business campaign challenges companies now using outside vendors for supplies and services to switch to a local company in the 319 area code, according to the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

The Buy319 initiative grew out of an idea from the Economic Alliance’s Business Support Innovation Council, which focuses on economic growth and business success, particularly of small and locally owned businesses.

“Focusing on the business-to-business relationship is one area where the council saw a window of opportunity,” said Jamie Siefken, the council’s chairman and general manager of Cedar Ridge Winery & Distillery in Swisher.

“We discovered that the No. 1 reason local companies use an outside vendor is because they weren’t aware a local company provided that service,” Siefken said. “Bringing awareness to the fantastic local companies we have in this area is the main driver behind this campaign.”

Beginning Sunday, businesses are encouraged to visit buy319.com and sign the pledge to commit to switching to a local 319 vendor.

Once a pledge is submitted, the business’ name will appear on the website, showcasing its commitment and support for local businesses.

Businesses can search a list of local companies, organized by industry, on the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance’s membership directory, or by emailing Pam Logue at plogue@cedarrapids.org to be connected to a local vendor.

“Supporting local is important, now more than ever,” said Doug Neumann, executive director at the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

“While we promote ‘buy local’ all year long, we want to remind the community of all the businesses in this area that can provide wonderful products or services such as office supplies, data processing, trucking, printing services, promotional items, business consulting and more,” he said.

Neumann said every dollar spent locally returns an average of three times that amount to the community.

GreenState Credit Union is sponsoring the Buy319 campaign with media sponsors, The Gazette and KCRG-TV9.