Promotion encourages shopping locally during Broadway construction
Patron affected businesses to find the toy concrete truck
Jennifer Larson
Staff Writer
The Forest Lake Area of Chamber of Commerce and Washington County have partnered on a promotion – “Where’s the Redstone concrete truck” – to spur shopping locally during the 2011 Broadway Avenue Improvement Project which gets underway this week.
Every two weeks, a toy concrete truck with the Mora-based company’s logo on it will be placed at a business along Broadway Ave. Clues will be given as to its whereabouts. Your job is to find that truck – and support businesses along the way.
“The idea is to get people out and looking for it,” Mindy Leadholm, business liaison for the county, said at the April 28 neighborhood meeting held at Taco John’s. The next one is set for 8-9 a.m., Thursday, May 5 at Culver’s of Forest Lake, 1007 W. Broadway Ave.
To enter into the first drawing, pick-up a game piece at Forest Lake City Hall or go online to print one. Find the pint-size concrete truck at each of its locations and track where and when you see it. Attach at least three receipts from any of the local businesses affected by the construction and turn them in with the game piece to city hall, 220 N. Lake St., by June 30.
Colleen Eddy, Chamber president, said there are numerous studies that indicate the significant positive impact residents have on the local economy when they shop in their community.
“Many people just don’t realize how they affect local businesses when they shop elsewhere,” she said.
Eddy noted that a recent study has shown that $68 out of every $100 spent at a locally owned business stays within the community.
“So don’t leave town or look the other way when the construction trucks roll in,” she said.
Each week, the clues will be published in the community section of the Forest Lake Times. (See right)
The second clue will be released Monday, May 16 and can be found on the project website (www.broadwayaveforestlake.info), chamber of commerce page (www.flacc.org), on the Internet at www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us and www.forestlaketimes.com.
