The Whistling Duck in Brighton is among area businesses featured in the municipality’s ‘Love Local’ campaign. /Sarah Hyatt/MBC
In the wake of a trade war, ongoing tariffs, related threats and counter-tariffs, a push is underway to “Love Local” in Brighton.
While area communities – and people across the nation – continue to rally with an emphasis on such movements in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats against the nation’s sovereignty, area leaders continue to predict tough times are ahead.
Meanwhile, local economic development officials are looking to do what they can to combat concerns – part of this response includes the “Love Local” campaign, which is already gaining traction.
At the council level, Brighton has formally backed “Love Local Week” from April 14 to 19, but advocates are hoping messaging leading up to and beyond will stick well beyond one week.
“It is no secret that the economy is going through a difficult time and leaving your dollar in Brighton at a local business does make a huge difference,” explains Ben Hagerman, Brighton’s manager of economic development and communications. “Please support the businesses that make our community grow, offer jobs and support our community organizations.”
Ultimately, the Love Local campaign aims to raise awareness of the importance of shopping locally, while highlighting businesses and local business owners. The campaign has digital and in-person elements.
Hagerman tells us more.
These are local people feeding their families, paying local taxes and growing the community who you are supporting, continues Hagerman, while also emphasizing that supporting local has a circular impact.
In other words, local businesses are more than just storefronts – they’re “the heart and soul of the community.”
Area leaders and officials are hoping residents will answer the call.
As part of the campaign, be sure to also keep an eye on Brighton social accounts, where staff are shining a light on local faces with business profiles as part of the initiative.
Even though this is a smaller area with a population of 13,000 or so, staff knew there would be an impact related to these tariffs, and there would need to be a response and supports put in place, explains Hagerman.
To help better understand potential fallout and challenges across all sectors, a survey went out to about 150 businesses earlier this year ahead of work on this campaign, says Hagerman, adding that the findings confirmed concerns.
“And that’s right from the auto industry, construction, trades, manufacturing, hospitality – everything.”
During COVID-19 – and the transition out of the pandemic – there was more of a shift and awareness on “Love Local” efforts. Staff are now looking to build on this.
The profiles as part of the campaign – being tackled by economic development and executive offices co-ordinator Caroline Birch – are about drawing more awareness, including around how people can get almost anything in the retail space close to home, explains Hagerman.
Whether it’s building supplies, shoes or office supplies as just a few examples, it’s all available locally, and with a few pointers, advocates are hoping residents will follow.
It’s hoped a “Made in Canada, Bought in Brighton” Facebook page – also created by the municipality – will compound efforts, serving as a resource for both residents and businesses. Launched in early March, the group already has more than 300 active members.
Simply put, it’s a place where people can highlight products available locally and help residents find local and Canadian-made products, explains Hagerman.
All residents and businesses are invited to join the group and share photos and locations.
As part of the effort, be sure to keep an eye out for “Love Local” tote bags, which are also coming in partnership with Brighton’s Downtown Business Improvement Association (DBIA.)
The reusable totes sport “Love Local” branding, and will be available at select retail businesses and provided to shoppers making minimum $30 purchases. Bags will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. To help spread the love further, only one bag will be available per customer.
For a list of participating businesses in the tote bag initiative, or to learn more about area businesses, visit the municipality’s website.
Meanwhile, Brighton Mayor and Northumberland County Warden Brian Ostrander vows that advocacy efforts are also ongoing.
“We’re going to have to be ever vigilant about encouraging people to buy Canadian and shop local, but on the other side of that coin, it’s also my responsibility to be reaching across the border and talking to colleagues on the other side of the border to make sure we’re developing those relationships, so that they can advocate on behalf of themselves and us because these tariffs are going to hurt everybody,” says Ostrander.
At the regional levels, Ostrander also says work with Bay of Quinte and Northumberland County development groups continues on additional programs and supports for area businesses.
“We’re here for you – our job is to help you out – and we will do that.”
Nearby in Quinte West, the city is also continuing to push to collect additional hyper-local data to help mitigate tariff concerns with a business economic impact survey. People have until April 16 to weigh in.
According to Ontario Chamber of Commerce data through a recent OCC tariffs survey, 77 per cent of respondents anticipate U.S. tariffs on Canadians goods will have a negative impact on their business. Additional key findings include that only half of the businesses are confident in their ability to adapt amid ongoing trade tensions, and 60 per cent of respondents indicated they don’t feel confident in Ontario’s economic outlook, with almost a quarter reporting they’re not at all confident.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
