Birmingham, AL  – Near the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Alabama residents were offered the opportunity to show their commitment to shopping locally by pre-ordering a distinctive car tag. The full Shop Local Support Small Business tag will be produced if at least 1,000 people complete an online application and pay a $50 fee by October 31, 2021. If that quota isn’t met, a similar plate could be produced in its place.

The money raised from the Shop Local Support Small Business tag will go to Main Street Alabama. The non-profit will use proceeds to support workshops for main street businesses while also making much-needed grants available. 

Hoover City Councilman, Casey Middlebrooks says the car tag idea came from a group of Jefferson County Councilors that regularly discuss impending issues. Leaders saw the custom tag as a way to support local businesses after the pandemic hit in March.  “We felt Main Street Alabama had the statewide presence and resources to facilitate support to small  businesses throughout the state,” said Middlebrooks.  

Main Street organizations immediately jumped into action during the pandemic. Main Street helped small businesses with curbside pickup, online ordering/marketplaces as well as organizing events to encourage people to shop in person. Many events were strategically developed to support social distance and shopping outside of smaller, brick & mortar shops. 

Despite pandemic struggles, small business growth across Alabama is at an all time high. According to the Secretary of State, from March 2020 to June 2021, just under 60,000 people registered a business in Alabama. For comparison, 15 months before the pandemic, roughly 35,000 people formed a business.

To learn more about purchasing the Shop Local Support Small Business tag, visit Main Street Alabama’s website,  www.mainstreetalabama.org.  

Main Street Alabama is a  non-profit and state coordinating program of Main Street America. The National Main Street Four Point Approach™ is an over 40 year model that focuses work in four areas: organization, design, promotion and economic vitality with strategies unique to the community.