WINDHAM – At first glance, The Grotto and Seavey’s Appliance seem to have little in common, except that they are both located in Windham.

The Grotto, a restaurant owned by Derek and Lori Cunningham, moved into the former site of Mangino’s on Route 302 three years ago. Seavey’s, on the other hand, has been in business since 1920 and owner Tim Seavey sells bulk household items, washing machines, stoves and dishwashers. So what could they possibly have in common? They both rely on year-round customers to pay the bills.

While many Maine businesses thrive on summer tourists, North Windham is considered a hub for people who reside year-round in the Lakes Region. Since the mid-1990s, North Windham each year has grown into more of a destination for all types of shopping needs.

Now, in an effort to boost awareness that local businesses need and rely on local residents to stay open, the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce is embarking on a Shop Local campaign, driven by business owners such as the Cunninghams and Seavey.

“The program is evolving as we go along,” said Seavey, one of 10 members of the Chamber’s Retail Committee overseeing the Shop Local campaign. “But everyone is excited to see something happen. This is the first time in my time in Windham that I’ve seen people in the business community sit down and come up with a marketing plan such as this.”

Lori Cunningham, another member of the Retail Committee, said the Shop Local campaign will “help people realize there’s everything you need here in Windham. We want you to think about Windham before going to Westbrook or Portland to do your shopping.”

The chairman of the Retail Committee, Dan Hancock, of Gorham Savings Bank, says the public will get a chance next Tuesday morning to hear more details of the Shop Local campaign and offer suggestions on how the committee can better brand the Windham shopping scene in an effort to entice local shoppers.

Hancock estimates that 60 percent of a locally owned business’s operating costs stays in the local community. Whether that be through employment, taxes or purchasing from local suppliers, the more local residents can spend their money locally, the healthier the entire community, Hancock said.

Hancock said the Retail Committee’s mission is to encourage growth in the retail sector by connecting all kinds of retail sector businesses – including restaurants, mechanics, insurance companies or any other company which generates foot traffic – and encouraging consumers to shop locally.

“The Shop Local campaign is aimed at capturing the local year-round resident,” Hancock said. “That’s where sustainability will come from. Obviously, we want to attract the tourists driving through Windham. But what will make or break local business is how they are supported by local residents.”

During Tuesday’s program, which runs from 7:30-9 a.m. at Genest Landscape and Masonry Center on Enterprise Drive in North Windham, the Retail Committee will pick up where it left off in April, when it held a retail forum that saw representatives from more than 40 local businesses offer ideas about improving the local economy. The Retail Committee compiled participants’ input and produced a list of six objectives, ranging from the need to brand the area to the need to use new technology to more effectively advertise the area. Tuesday’s presentation will add further detail those objectives.

The Shop Local campaign is not unique to Windham. Cities such as South Portland and Portland and even small Maine towns such as Waterboro are strongly promoting the concept of shopping locally.

“We are reaching out to other groups and communities to see what’s worked elsewhere,” Hancock said.

“The biggest part of this is getting everyone to work together,” said Lori Cunningham.

“Everyone is plain excited to see something like this going on,” Seavey added.