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Hope you''re all hanging in there in these crazy times. This sounds trite, but it''s true: We are all in this together.

Last month we launched a new online marketplace, buylocaltampabay.com, to help locals connect and shop directly from local makers and small businesses. LocalShops1 maintains the website, but we are not taking any cuts, and we are not charging listing fees.?

In the first month, sales were close to $6,500! But we have loftier goals. So we have partnered with I Love the Burg and lots of local community organizations to launch the Million Dollar Mission. In short, we need 50,000 people to each spend $20 (or more) with their favorite local makers and small businesses on our marketplace.?Along the way we''ll have fun contests and giveaways for shoppers, too! So let''s get started. Head over to?https://buylocaltampabay.com/?and start shopping, Tampa Bay!

Hope you''re all holding tight, considering all the craziness these days. Like all of you, we are continuing to monitor COVID-19 developments,? and of course have canceled all our events through April. Our shop is closed for now, too, and we will re-evaluate week by week to see when it''s OK to open again.

Behind-the-scenes we are here, virtually, to help as needed. We''ve?compiled a list of links to useful resources, including information on local businesses stepping up to help, local farms and restaurants that deliver, Facebook grants for businesses, and much more:?https://www.localshops1.com/blog/resources-life-during-covid-19-outbreak?

Now more than ever, local businesses need our support.? Please consider buying gift cards now from shops, artists, restaurants and service providers, to use after things are back to whatever the new normal might be. As much as you can, please order takeout and delivery from the local restaurants that are still open, and don''t forget to tip.

Please stay in touch with us on our Facebook group, LocalShops1 #LiveLocal.? Together we will make it through all this, and hopefully come out a stronger, kinder community.

Share far and wide, please:

Like all of you, we are continuing to monitor COVID-19 developments throughout our region?and the?world.

To support the community efforts to help slow the spread, here at LocalShops1 are following recommendations for social distancing, and have canceled all our events for the next 8 weeks and closed the LocalShops1 Shop at least through March.?

Behind-the-scenes we are here, virtually, to help as needed. We''ve?compiled a list of links to useful resources, including information about the state''s small business loans.? All the information is here:?https://www.localshops1.com/blog/resources-life-during-covid-19-outbreak? We''ve also put together a list of ways to help small businesses, for you to share with?customers and friends:?https://www.localshops1.com/blog/call-to-action-buy-eat-live-local

Please stay in touch with us on our Facebook group, LocalShops1 #LiveLocal.? Together we will make it through all this, and come out a stronger, kinder community.

Share far and wide, please: