Athlone brewery owner backing Westmeath's 'Look for Local' campaign

A campaign by the Local Enterprise Office is asking people in Westmeath to 'Look for Local' when they are shopping for products, services and experiences this summer.

The campaign aims to increase awareness of the benefits of spending in your local area, and is supported by Enterprise Ireland and local councils.

Among those championing it in Athlone is Liam Tutty (pictured), the founder of the Dead Centre craft brewery, who said: "In the Midlands, we really feel as though we've built a community instead of a customer base."

The first 'Look for Local' campaign was run by Local Enterprise Office Westmeath in November and December last, and research carried out at that time showed Irish consumers were 83% more likely to look local for products and services in 2021.

The campaign aims to strengthen that sentiment and to educate consumers on the domino effect that local spending has throughout their community.

Every €10 spent in Westmeath on Irish products and services generates more than €40 of benefit to the county in terms of employment.

The 'Look for Local' campaign will run across the summer on social and traditional media.

Christine Charlton, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Westmeath, commented: "Since the onset of Covid-19, Local Enterprise Office Westmeath has been working closely with small businesses across the county to help sustain them with financial supports, training, mentoring and consultancy for all areas of their business.

"Now it's our turn, as consumers, to 'Look for Local' with the economy reopening.

"Every euro you spend with a local business is an investment in the community around it and the quality of goods, services and experiences on our doorstep is second to none.

"Not only that, it makes a positive environmental, economic and societal impact. This summer we are asking everyone to 'Look for Local' and support businesses and jobs across County Westmeath."

In 2020, the Local Enterprise Offices approved over 13,000 Trading Online Vouchers which enabled small businesses to set up an online trading presence.

This was up over 950% from the previous year (1,218) and it helped small businesses to keep the virtual doors open when the physical ones were shut.

For more information on the 'Look for Local' campaign go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie/LookforLocal.

Agencies, businesses and consumers will also be encouraged to use #LookforLocal on social media to help support the campaign, with customers urged to tag their favourite local businesses and services.