Mayor Charmaine Tavares (right) looks at a promotional T-shirt displayed by county Economic Development Coordinator Deidre Tegarden. The shirts will be offered as prize giveaways during live “Maui County Think Local” radio call-in shows that will be broadcast on KAOI 1110 AM.

WAILUKU — Flanked by a number of business owners, Mayor Charmaine Tavares last week issued a proclamation declaring February “Got Choice… Think Local” month in the County of Maui.

The proclamation signing kicked off the county’s “Got Choice… Think Local” campaign that promotes supporting Maui businesses and encourages the public to keep their dollars circulating within our community.

Mayor Tavares described how the new initiative took shape.

“Someone asked me what she could do with a limited income to help the community during these hard economic times. I told her that everyone has to shop at some point, and spending money here helps local businesses. If we all practiced this in our daily lives, the impact to our own county would be dramatic.

“I tell people that the best way to make a difference right now is with your pocketbook,” Mayor Tavares continued.

“You have choices to make every day on what to spend your dollar on. This is the way we can all make a positive difference in our community during these tough times. Put your dollar into the right hands — the hands of someone in our own community.”

At the signing event, county Economic Development Coordinator Deidre Tegarden announced a new webpage, www.MauiCountyThinkLocal.com,

and a new “Maui County Think Local” radio show that will begin airing live on Feb. 12 on KAOI 1110 AM.

“The ‘Got Choice… Think Local’ campaign is just the beginning and it’s already taking off in a big way,” said Tegarden, who described the incentives and coupons being offered during the month of February.

“Each of the 180 businesses that have already signed on chose and created their own, unique incentive to offer the public.”

In her remarks, Mayor Tavares noted that “there are nearly 10,000 registered businesses in Maui County that provide employment for residents, creating jobs for a large portion of our local population. Buying local is an investment in our community that supports local families, and highlights how buying locally produced, fresh and nutritious agricultural products can help ensure that there will be farms and ranches in our county for future generations.”

Promotions featured during the month-long campaign include incentives like a complimentary reusable shopping tote for consumers with receipts totaling at least $50 spent at any business in Maui County this year, and coupons valid for various benefits offered by the more than 180 participating local businesses.

On Maui, receipts can be redeemed for the bag at the following locations and dates: Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center, Feb. 13-14, during mall hours; Lahaina Cannery Mall, Feb. 20, noon to 4 p.m.; Hasegawa General Store, Feb. 25-27. during store hours; and Azeka Shopping Center, Feb. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sponsors of the “Got Choice…Think Local” campaign are Maui No Ka Oi Magazine, Grown on Maui, KAOI Radio Group, Lahaina News, Maui Cattle Company, Maui County Farm Bureau, Maui Printing Company, MauiTime, Maui TV News, Maui Weekly, Pacific Radio Group and The Maui News.

For more information, visit www.MauiCountyThinkLocal.com or call the Office of Economic Development at (808) 270-7710.