Earlier this month, I launched a new website to provide a forum for Michigan residents looking to Buy Michigan First! The website encourages residents to support Michigan’s small businesses, protect and create local jobs and revitalize our economy by purchasing Michigan-made products and services, and includes a free interactive tool that offers an easy-to-use database for consumers to locate and review local businesses and Michigan-made products and services, and free “MI Biz” accounts for local businesses to show off their products and services by listing their contact information, posting photos, and promoting specials.

In addition, you can also take the Ten Buck Pledge, where local residents commit to putting $10 of their weekly budget toward buying Michigan-made goods and services. If we each spent just $10 a week on Michigan products – instead of those from other states and countries – we would inject tens of millions of dollars back into Michigan’s economy every week.

Efforts like this, where each of us commits to doing our part, can have a major impact in turning our economy around and creating jobs for Michigan workers. Whether it’s a game from Carrom Games in Ludington, some cider from Douglas Valley Winery in Manistee, delicious local jams and preserves from Benzie County’s Food for Thought, or a great bottle of wine from the Leelanau Peninsula, spending your hard-earned money on local goods and services has never been so fun – or so tasty!

So join me in taking the Ten Buck Pledge at BuyMichFirst.com. Together, we can get Michigan moving again!