CANTON — A new campaign called Buy Local or Bye-Bye Local seeks to help North Country businesses before they are gone forever.

The SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and regional partners are reminding community members how crucial it is to shop at local, independent businesses this holiday season to help them survive as they operate under continuing COVID restrictions.

The SBDC is partnering with business organizations across seven counties, including Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County IDA/LDC, Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, The Saint Lawrence County Chamber, and the Essex County IDA in a united effort to keep our small businesses afloat.

The SBDC campaign is also partnering with the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) on this effort as an extension of their #clicklocal campaign; encouraging North Country residents to consider shopping local even when they are online.

“Few sectors have escaped the effects of the lockdown. Independently owned businesses and not-for-profit organizations have been hit particularly hard. Uniting together to shop local first will help save small businesses across our North Country region and could even fuel an economic recovery,” said SUNY Canton SBDC Assistant Director Angela Smith.

The Buy Local or Bye-Bye Local campaign is meant to bring awareness to consumers on how crucial it is to shop locally, especially for the upcoming holiday season and the slower winter months.

The shop local educational campaign will highlight gift ideas that can be purchased locally and feature small businesses that continue to operate with significant restrictions placed on them including restaurants, salons and spas, bowling alleys, movie theaters, gyms, non-profits, breweries, and more.

In addition to the awareness campaign, the SUNY Canton SBDC wants to remind people that it has two hotlines that local businesses can call if they have a question – Canton (315) 386-7312 and Plattsburgh (518) 324-7232.

The SUNY Canton SBDC business counselors are also available for virtual and in-person confidential sessions to help small businesses looking for advice to adapt their finances, human resources, sales, marketing, and more.

“Winter is almost here. COVID-19 restrictions are still in place. Let’s join together to help save our local businesses,” Smith said.

More information about the New York SBDC and how to support existing businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs is available online at www.nysbdc.org.