Buying Local First

Jackson Citizens for Economic Growth (JCEG) and JXN Local First
in cooperation with the Enterprise Group and Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce present:

A unique message at a unique venue…

Jeff Milchen on Buying Local First
at the Armory Arts Village, 100 Armory Ct., Jackson

June 17, 2008 at 6:30 p.m.

RSVP to: growjackson@hotmail.com.

About the Speaker:
Jeff Milchen, co-founder and director of the American Independent Business Alliance will speak on the essential benefits of doing business locally. Milchen is a prominent advocate for independent business and entrepreneurs as a writer as well as speaker. His commentaries and how-to articles have appeared in a wide range of publications including The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Inc. Magazine, High Country News and The Ecologist.

JXN Local First is the newly initiated buy local first organization for Jackson County joining others in Michigan and around the nation to emphasize the necessity of looking toward local sources for all of our needs. This organization, a member of the American Independent Business Alliance, aims to network and help to support independent entities for the purposes of growth and sustainability. It is the core belief of JXN Local First that supporting local businesses will preserve the economic diversity of our community and the unique character of our neighborhoods.

The Armory Arts Village is a bold, innovative project using the arts, culture, creativity and innovation as a catalyst for invigorating and reinventing the community. It was the original Jackson State Prison until the 1920's and an Armory since the early 1930's. Today, the 19-acre site includes 250,000 square feet of historic prison buildings and a stunning 25 foot high turreted stone wall forming the perimeter of the property. Adaptive reuse of the historic prison buildings has created galleries, studios and apartments for emerging artists, musicians, designers and craftsmen with the passion and commitment to turn their creativity into micro-enterprises, small businesses and other entrepreneurial ventures.

Congratulations to the first graduating class of the Jackson Retail Success Academy, an intensive ten week program designed to give retail business owners all the tools and skills, from financial planning and inventory control to marketing and HR laws, needed to run a successful business. Their graduation ceremony will occur during this presentation.