With the plastic bag ban fast approaching and a $300 daily fine for violations, it is important that businesses have a plan in place. Many local retailers are still unsure about sales tax and exemptions, and some restaurants still do not know how this law applies to them. Get answers to these questions and many . . . read more
Cambridge Local First was founded ten years ago by a small group of local and independent business owners who were passionate in their belief that our businesses are in large part responsible for giving Cambridge its character, uniqueness and economic strength. Although most of our founding members remain on our Board, a few of them . . . read more
This is a guest post by Laury Hammel, Executive Director of the Sustainable Business Network and Former CLF Board Member On November 14 the 5th annual Shift Your Shopping holiday campaign launches the 2015 season, encouraging individuals and businesses to “shift” more of their visits for holiday shopping, entertaining and dining to local independent businesses. . . . read more
A Cash Mob will be crowding the Harvard Square on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015. Cambridge Local First will ask Cash Mob shoppers to pledge to spend a minimum of $10 at local businesses that day. Cambridge Local First (CLF) will be in Brattle Square Plaza during 10:00 am-2:00 pm, to hand out shopping maps . . . read more
The City of Cambridge, in partnership with Cambridge Local First (CLF), has declared the week of November 8-14, 2015 as Local Economy Week. This annual week-long celebration started in 2010 to recognize the hundreds of diverse locally owned and independent business in Cambridge. Cambridge Local First will commemorate the 5th annual Local Economy Week with . . . read more
Cambridge Local First (CLF) is throwing a party to celebrate 10 years of supporting and promoting local and independent Cambridge businesses and organizations. The Local Music Celebration will take place on Tuesday, November 10th, 2015 at The Sinclair in Harvard Square at 52 Church Street, Cambridge MA 02138. Doors will open at 6:30pm. Music will . . . read more
The Boston Police Department will be holding a Pre-Holiday Fraud Awareness Training Seminar. They have invited the Cambridge Business Community to take advantage of this training. The seminar is going to focus on issues that businesses face during the holiday season, They will be showing how re-encoded credit cards and gift cards are made and . . . read more
With City Council elections fast approaching it is time for CLF’s biannual candidate survey. We asked each and every campaign to answer a series of questions to find where they stand on issues affecting the local and independent business community. The following candidates answered our survey in full. Please take some time to reach through . . . read more
Save the Date – Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Regional Series Thursday, November 5, 2015 8:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120 Join the state Supplier and Diversity Office for a morning of networking and workshops designed to provide capacity building and expanded procurement opportunities for the . . . read more
The Local Economy Movement (sometimes referred to as Local First or Buy Local Movement) officially began in 2001 when two national organizations were founded–the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). Since that time over 200 local networks have emerged, all with a common theme: When a purchase . . . read more
