Maria DeCarvalho shared three wonderful local family businesses. La Arepa, 582 Smithfield Avenue, Pawtucket Nohemi Rodriguez grew up in Valencia, Venezuela and she and her son Bernardo Garcia bring traditions of both beauty and deliciousness to their wonderful restaurant, La Arepa, located in the Fairlawn neighborhood of Pawtucket. Arepas are sweet corn cakes filled…
From July 1 to July 31, Independents Month celebrates independent, locally-owned businesses and the community values they embody: Their spirit of entrepreneurship, individuality, uniqueness, and character. How they give back to our community with their time, talents, goods, and services. How they fulfill community needs that make us healthier and wealthier. Why independents? Every $1…
Sandra Enos, a recently retired sociology professor, has her own small business. Giving Beyond The Box curates gift boxes that feature local enterprises, BIPOC- and woman-owned businesses, Providence-based artists, and local farmers. Sandra’s local champions are located in downtown Wakefield, Rhode Island. They are all within about 500 feet of each other. Sandra said, “Wakefield…
Interested in local economies and investing? Join us for an informal happy hour on Thursday, June 30, 5:30 p.m. at The Guild Beer Garden by the Michael Van Leesten Pedestrian Bridge in Providence. You’ll meet like-minded people, drink local beer, enjoy the Providence riverfront, AND support a locally-owned business. Email jessica@localreturn.org for more information.
Every $1 we spend has consequences. When we choose to buy from locally-owned businesses, our money does more good for our local community. Here’s six good reasons to buy local. From July 1 to July 31, Independents Month celebrates independent, locally-owned businesses and entrepreneurship. For Independents Month, Local Return is recruiting Neighborhood Champions to help…
Saturday, April 30 is Independent Bookstore Day! Celebrate at any one of Rhode Island’s delightful independently-only bookshops, from Westerly to Pawtucket to Warren. According to Indiebound.org, there are nine Rhode Island stores participating: Barrington Books, Barrington Books on the Pond, Charlestown Books on the Square, Providence Charter Books, Newport Curiosity & Co, Jamestown Ink Fish…
Our economic choices matter. Even if we don’t have the outsized wealth of Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates, there are consequences to how we spend and invest our money. Choosing a local bank is one of the easiest ways to support our local economy. Thinking locally is about more than spending your dollars locally. It’s…
If you want to find a bank that keeps your money close to home and puts it to work for your community (here are four good reasons why you should!), we’ve got a list of community banks and credit unions in Rhode Island. By our count, there are branches in 35 of our 39 municipalities.…
Community banks and credit unions are embedded in local communities, rely on strong customer relationships, and understand the needs of local people, businesses, and markets. Here are four great reasons to bank local (adapted with gratitude from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance). 1. You’ll get the same great services for lower costs. Most locally owned…
Are you looking for a path forward for investing your money locally? Feel like you need more tools for due diligence and research? Join us for a practical workshop with Michelle Hoexum of Revalue, a leading firm for building Wall Street and Main Street portfolios and learn some of the tools and approaches that Revalue…
