Have you ever wondered what small businesses there are in Houston? Ever wanted to shop local but didn’t know where to go? Or are you a small business owner and wish there was a way to get your business known?
Small Town Love may be the answer, and it’s coming to Houston.
At the heart of Small Town Love is a website with a database of small business in the community. The dual-purpose of the program is to help small businesses hold their own against the chain stores and online competition, and to inspire communities to shop and support local business.
“It’s about making local businesses more visible and about keeping more money in the local economy.
“It will provide a web presence for businesses that will not only help locals find them but also tourists or people coming through who may stop in Houston because there’s a really cool business that they want to check out.
“It’s exclusively for independent, locally-owned business... and it helps [owners] celebrate their business on the web in a professional way,” said Renata King, Director of Business with Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDI).
Small Town Love is currently gathering applications from any small local businesses for its web database, which will be at LoveHoustonBC.com and is set to launch in May.
The website will have profiles to showcase each business, what they offer, and the story of the business owner. After the website launches, they will also host a launch event in the community to showcase the businesses.
Small Town Love is supported and funded by NDI, a non-profit corporation working for economic development in northern B.C.
It started in Quesnel and is spreading across northern B.C. Last year, the pilot program launched sites for Burns Lake, Fort St. James, Logan Lake, Valemont, Vanderhoof and 100 Mile House.
Because of the NDI funding, businesses can participate with a one-time fee of $100.
The website will have profiles to showcase businesses, what they offer, and the story of the business owner.
For more information or if you’re a business owner looking to apply, go to SmallTownLove.com