Rochester Business Journal

For the second straight year, Livingston County has launched its Shop in Livingston campaign to encourage holiday shoppers to buy at local vendors.

The campaign was the result of a partnership among the Livingston County Development Corporation, the Livingston County Board Supervisors and the Livingston County Area Chamber of Commerce. Officials said last year’s campaign led to a 7 percent increase in fourth-quarter sales tax revenue for the county.

This year’s campaign, which runs from through December, will feature several promotions, officials said. The first involves organized cash mobs made up of a large group of shoppers that will visit different shopping communities in the county on three Saturdays in September.

The second program focuses on dining. Each time a county resident shops at a participating restaurant during the month of October, the resident will receive two dining dollars towards a return visit to that restaurant.

In addition, the campaign will also feature a holiday shopping program in November and December that includes weekly shopping spree giveaways online or at participating merchants.

Officials said merchant participation is expected to increase this year.

“We invested in our local business by encouraging people to do their holiday shopping in Livingston,” said James Merrick, chairman of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “We had such a positive response that we are eager to continue investing in our communities by expanding the in Livingston program."

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