BIDDEFORD — Purchasing goods, products and services at locally owned stores can have a great impact on the local community, according to several local business promotion organizations. That’s why several of those groups have banded together to start the Biddeford-Saco Buy Local campaign. The campaign kick-off took place Tuesday at the Saco Transportation Center.

The program was created through the collaborative efforts of the Biddeford-Saco Area Economic Development Corporation, the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Heart of Biddeford and Saco Spirit.

All four organizations share the mission to support local businesses and reinvigorate the downtowns on both sides of the river.

It’s taken more than a year to create the Buy Local program, said William Armitage, the executive director of the Biddeford-Saco Area Economic Development Corporation. In addition to creating the elements for the marketing campaign, the group needed to raise the necessary funds, about $50,000, for the launch, as well as educate business owners about the program and sign them up.

The Buy Local marketing campaign began Tuesday, said Armitage. It includes cable television advertising, radio advertising and will also include print ads.

The foundation of the program, he said, will be the website. All the advertising will steer consumers to www.biddefordsacobuylocal.org.

At the website, all the participating businesses ”“ 54 so far ”“ will have their own page that includes location and contact information, coupons and maps to help potential customers find their way to the businesses.

Other items on the website include a calendar section; a “take the pledge section,” where consumers can make a pledge to shop locally; a coupon section; and a section where website visitors can look up businesses by categories.

Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Craig Pendleton said the goal of the campaign isn’t to entirely change consumers’ spending habits. The program “works well if a couple times a month people buy something in Biddeford or Saco.”

When money is spent at local businesses, said chamber First Vice Chairman Mike Knowles, “more of the money stays in the local community and is invested locally.”

According to the Buy Local campaign materials, “For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy.” That’s compared to only $14 that remains in the local community for every $100 spent at a national chain or franchise store.

Another benefit, said Knowles, is that if local businesses are successful, they create more local jobs.

The Buy Local literature states that studies show some locally-owned businesses provide better wages, benefits and working conditions than national chains.

Reuben Bell, an owner of the Blue Elephant restaurant in Saco, said he joined the Buy Local campaign because “as a small business owner, it’s a welcome addition to our current marketing.

“The web-based interface is an excellent idea,” said Bell. “It’s another opportunity to reach our potential customers.”

Buy Local programs can make a difference, said Rosa Scarcelli, a candidate for governor in the Democratic primary, who was in the area Wednesday to open her Biddeford campaign office.

A study by her campaign showed that if Mainers spent $10 per week on food grown in Maine, it would keep $20 million in state, said Scarcelli.

Businesses who join the Buy Local program pay nothing for year one of the program.

After the first year of the program, said Pendleton, enough data should be compiled to show if the Buy Local marketing campaign has made a difference for participating business in Biddeford and Saco.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.