GUEST EDITORIAL: MLBA did not choose the Spokane band
MOSES LAKE - I was so excited to read that the Moses Lake Business Association's message of Shop Local is being heard! Many of the merchants in LakeTown Landing - Moses Lake's Downtown Shopping District reported that they have seen an increase in shopping local this holiday season. Sue from Sue's Gift Shop was encouraged by the turnout she experienced on Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 26. So thank you to all of you who have shopped local this season. Keep up the great work!
There are lots of fantastic reasons to "Shop Local." Money spent in LakeTown Landing, Moses Lake's Main Street, stays within the community and sustains those who need it most. When you shop with local business owners, the money you spend re-circulates in your community. Local business owners employ local workers, pay local taxes, give to local charities, and buy goods and services from other local businesses. Money spent with out of town business owners leaves your community and has relatively little impact in your city or town.
The City of Moses Lake recently built a fantastic new facility for the city hall and their Moses Lake Museum and Art Center. They threw a nice party with music and food for everyone. The Moses Lake Business Association was not involved in the planning or production for the event, it was all the City of Moses Lake.
The Moses Lake Business Association is an organization of business leaders and individuals in Moses Lake. Many of the members are located in LakeTown Landing, but there are lots of people who believe in the mission of the MLBA. Our primary focus is the revitalization of downtown. We believe that a strong core downtown makes Moses Lake a better place to live. If the core of our town is strong and a place people want to be, we can all enjoy the growth in our community. Businesses choose places to locate that will give their employees a good quality of life. Moses Lake is one of those strong communities.
The MLBA placed and takes care of the flower pots downtown, puts on events such as the Basin BBQ Bash, LakeTown Landing Trick or Treat, Holiday Street Tree Lighting, the Ag Parade. We put up the lights in the downtown trees and in Sinkiuse Square, the holiday banners and wreaths and in the summer we put up the yellow banners. We put on events in Sinkiuse Square to draw people into our downtown. We encourage the locals and tourists to view our downtown as their community living room.
We do all this with the support of our members and those who contribute to the Main Street Tax Credit Incentive Program. As a matter of fact, the Moses Lake Business Association does not receive any ongoing funding from the City of Moses Lake. We buy local and we encourage you to buy local too!
To the writer from last week I'd like to say that we would love to have your bands perform. We are always looking for local talent. We have a Facebook page and a website (mlbacares.org). Please contact me and let's set something up! Our local talent is always fun to showcase.
We'll see you in LakeTown Landing!