Business and Professional Association looks for ways to expand effort this year.

By Mike DiCicco

Locally owned, “mom-and-pop” businesses are what determine much of a community’s character, said Mark von Keszycki of the Great Falls Business and Professional Association (BPA), after the association wrapped up its first “Shop Local” campaign last Wednesday morning, Jan. 20.

Michael Vandergrift, also of the BPA, added that supporting local businesses resulted in an “economic trickle effect,” as those businesses employed local residents and bought from other local companies. And, he said, shopping locally saves time and money and is better for the environment than driving to distant shopping districts.

Continue reading article. . . . .