#Loyal2LocalChallenge aims to inject money into Atlantic Canadian economy
For the second year in a row, Atlantic Credit Unions are incentivizing its employees to buy local.
The challenge will see every single employee in Atlantic Canada get $25 to spend at their favourite local store.
"The #Loyal2LocalChallenge is a national initiative from credit unions from across the country in support of our local small businesses,” said Kate Steele, brand marketing specialist.
"Our hope really with the challenge is to support those small businesses that really need our love right now."
"I know personally I am going to spend mine at Birch and Anchor,” said Payton Conrad, Atlantic Credit Unions' community impact coordinator.
“One of my employees and I are going to go out and get some pizza and maybe a couple beverages."
Last year, the challenge injected $67,000 into the region's economy. This year, they’ve surpassed their goal of $80,000.
"It really is just to be able to give back to the community during these times of COVID,” said Conrad.
"Some of the local businesses had to shut down, for sometimes an extensive period of time. and we just want to be able to support the local economy as much as we can."
After a difficult year, the initiative is something the local business community is happy to see.
"I think it's fabulous because as a local small business owner I think it's great that people are putting out an initiative to support small business because during the pandemic it has been difficult at times. So, the more community spirit we can get the better,” said Jenn Service, owner of Souper Duper Soup in Dartmouth.
"Lots of people individually weren't necessarily hurt because of the pandemic, but I don't know of a single business that wasn't impacted through this,” said Paul MacKinnon with the Downtown Halifax Business Association.
The challenge kicked off July 15 and runs until August 15. But the initiative isn’t just for credit unions and their employees.
"We're encouraging folks to spend at their favourite local store or shop and post their purchase, or post their experience tagging the small businesses under the hashtag loyal to local challenge,” said Steele.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Feds hope to table foreign interference legislation next week: LeBlanc
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to table legislation this week to help the federal government address foreign interference, but he wouldn't say whether the proposal will include a foreign agent registry.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.