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The “Made in the USA” movement has always been popular with people trying to get jobs back to this country, but now the strategy is coming to your local cities and neighborhoods. “Made in N.Y.C.” for instance is a group trying to promote items manufactured locally in the New York area. Other organizations intent on bringing manufacturing back to the United States are also going local. With farmers’ markets having so much success, it has become evident that there is a market for things made locally, and this can be extended to all manner of manufactured goods.

Buying Local

Big box stores may have plenty of cheap imported goods, but the public’s awareness that the cost of those goods is American jobs is coming to the forefront. Record unemployment has made a believer out of many people who may now seek out American-made goods in hopes of spurring the national economy. Pretty soon, they’ll also have ways to spur their local economy, too, if Urban Manufacturing Alliance has their way. They’ve been involved in helping the local buying movement with the SFMade and Made in N.Y.C. organizations.

The Benefits

Buying local is not just about jobs, it is about creating communities. However, to get local manufacturing on a sound footing, it is necessary to have a support network like the Urban Manufacturing Alliance to help pave the way. They not only help the small business owner who wants to join this movement, but they raise the consumer’s public awareness so that it can be successful. Small business owners get to network with each other through the organization with other businesses with the same desire to create a desire to buy local and support their local communities. Meanwhile, the larger organizations help to disseminate important information to consumers and business owners alike, leaving the businesses free to concentrate on their manufacturing process.