Think Local First | DC Locals Mean Business!

Think Local First DC is a clearing house for campaigns that educate consumers, provide assistance to businesses and promote
everything local!

Do Good Summit – Building Community by Transforming Business

With an inaugural summit in May 2012, the Do Good Summit is an one-day, intensive, interactive conference for entrepreneurs. Workshops, panels and speakers teach entrepreneurs how to run successful businesses that have steam-lined, innovative operations while having a positive social and environmental impact.

Eat Local First

Eat Local First is a local food campaign that begins with a yearly week-long celebration of local food in the Washington DC area. The focus will be on local farms, local restaurants and the organizations and people that are making locally-grown food more accessible in the DC community.

Femivore Award

The Femivore Award is granted to a woman who is creating change in the local food community. This award recognizes and encourages those women in DC who are catalysts for changing the local food movement as farmers, mothers, businesswomen, chefs, non-profit leaders and activists.

Idea Local First

Entrepreneurs improve their bottom-line by constantly evaluating process and brainstorming new ways to achieve their business goals. The same goes for successful communities. We all know that innovation begins with ideas—- why not go to the locals to find them? And since Think Local First DC works independent businesses, consumers and policymakers to grow a sustainable, local economy - why not start here?

Idea Local First is an idea-sourcing platform that Think Local First DC will use to prioritize community needs, create action items and develop solutions with their members, partner organizations, developers and DC Government to enhance the local business climate in Washington DC. ONLINE PLATFORM LAUNCHING SOON

Listen Local First

Listen Local First is a local music initiative devoted to building awareness and creating opportunities for local musicians and venues in order to raise the profile of DC’s local music scene. This campaign includes a monthly Local Music Day and Local Music Showcases highlighting a variety of venues and genres of local music.

Locals Unplugged

Locals Unplugged is a monthly two hour business breakfast, co-sponsored with Live Green, that educates business owners on topics that can increase profits
while enhancing their focus on people and planet. Led by local entrepreneurs, these candid conversations often lend a true confessions platform for lessons learned.

Shop Outside the (big) Box

Shop Outside the (big) Box highlights the economic impact of shopping at locally-owned independent businesses in DC. By highlighting independent businesses, creating unique shopping opportunities and educating consumers we hope to increase awareness and sales for the local retailers!

StartUp Kitchen

StartUp Kitchen is a collaborative project with NURISH: The Center for a Creative Culinary Economy. It is is an eight-week rapid incubator for culinary entrepreneurs including formal mentorship with a DC based business owner and opportunity to partner with a local restaurant to temporarily operate their food concept in a restaurant setting without the risk and investment normally required. The long-term goal is the growth of StartUp Kitchen incubators citywide. The first StartUp Kitchen concept launches a fast casual Indian Concept in September at Domku in Petworth. The second StartUp Kitchen, incubating a bakery or dessertery concept in Capitol Hill will launch at Hello Cupcake in January. A call for business plans will occur in September.