This morning, Local First Milwaukee held its first Third Thursday networking event of 2012! It was well-attended by many businesses. Newaukee and Art Milwaukee were the hosts and did a swell job of showing off their location beneath the Plankinton arcade of Grand Avenue Mall. (here, I wrote about another neat happening at the Grand Avenue Mall!)
For those who don’t know, Local First Milwaukee is a “buy local” group that encourages businesses and consumer to understand the value that comes from supporting locally-owned and small businesses in the metro-Milwaukee area. Did you know, for instance, that non-profits receive an average of 250% MORE support from locally-owned businesses than from their larger-scale competitors? See more facts about buying local HERE.
As I mentioned, this morning’s event was attended by a number of LFM members, new and established! Here’s who I saw present and enjoying the Stone Creek Coffee:
+Companion Art Gallery + Pampered Pets – continue to help serve pets and the people who love them.
+Eco-Hatchery – recently won an award from the EPA for their “lightbulb finder” app!
+Newaukee – helping young professionals to discover the great social scene of Milwaukee!
+Art Milwaukee – a “temp agency for artists”, they also contract artists to do “live creations” at special events and commissioned the Coutos Brothers piece at the corner of 1st and Pittsburgh!
+Fair Trade For All – just opened a second location on East Capitol Drive (near the City Market). Gail Bennett, owner of Fair Trade For All, also told me about the progress she’s making with the Well City of Milwaukee program, where she’s helping to encourage businesses to develop in-house wellness programs!
+C2 Graphics and Productivity Solutions – continues to teach Adobe-certified classes in Milwaukee and Madison.
+Artworks for Milwaukee – is advocating for more public art in Milwaukee and working with at-risk youths to create art.
+Mark the Occasion Designs – is making special occasion bouquets from reclaimed and non-flower materials! What an exciting and interesting idea!
+91.7 WMSE – is continuing to provide as the “go to” independent radio station in town! Mark your calendar for their February 4th Dance Party!
+Horizon Homecare Hospice – is encouraging people to visit their free Grief Center , and its accompanying blog, where people kind find support and help in dealing with a number of kinds of loss – divorce, death, death of a pet.
+Stone Creek Coffee – mentioned their exciting new plans to remodel their 5th Street Roasting Plant. The “new” building will have a bakery and a factory-outlet store! They’re looking to be open by Labor Day 2012.
+Wisconsin Public Radio – is continuing to share great public radio programs with Wisconsin!
+and myself, Troy Freund Photography!
