The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber of Commerce is ramping up its Shop Local Buy Local campaign to encourage residents to do their shopping in Rockdale

The campaign, which officially kicks off May 2, encourages local businesses and residents to spend their money in the county to help the local economy and to see more of their money come back to help them.

According to Chamber President Lorraine Harrison, who has made the Shop Local campaign central to her platform this year,  "Every dollar spent with a locally owned Rockdale County business has a return of investment of 68 cents back into our tax base. When we spend with businesses located here, but not owned here 43 cents is returned to the community. When we shop outside the county or online none of the revenue feeds back.

"The greatest positive economic impact on jobs and foreclosures can be derived when we shop local."

Many of Rockdale's school and county and city capital projects, such as building construction, road paving, and school renovations, are paid with funds collected from sales taxes.

The official launch event will be held at Rockdale Medical Center on May 2 at 7:15 a.m.

The Conyers-Rockdale Chamber will launch an ongoing series of educational workshops for both consumers and businesses to bring awareness to the impact of shopping local.  The next event will be at the Cherry Blossom Festival on March 24-25, Georgia International Horsepark. Shopers can also participate in the “20/20 Program” which encourages all to spend a minimum of $20 at a local business on the 20th of each month. Buyers who Tweet their purchase information can be entered into a drawing for a free prize at Twitter.com/ShopInRockdale.

The Chamber has partnered with the City Council, Board of Commissioners, Economic Development Council, Top Ten Employers and a host of other small businesses and leaders for this campaign.

For more information on Shop Local campaign, visit www.shoptherock.org, or Facebook.com/ShopInRockdale and Twitter.com/ShopInRockdale or contact Lorraine Harrison at 770-289-9621, lorraineharrison@bellsouth.net or Diane Daniels-Adoma at adoma.diane@gmail.com at 770-483-9360.