Homegrown Hustle: Boosting Local Economy

0:00It's April 9th. This is Calgary News Today, powered by AI, I'm Cory with the story. A new startup called Homegrown Hustle just launched in Calgary to spotlight local mom and pop shops through a one-stop online platform. Jesse Holiday, a graphic designer and dad of two, built it himself after spotting hidden businesses on Google Maps during a walk with his son last year. He coded the site from scratch, adding tools like traffic analytics for signups and plans to bring on photographers and writers as it grows. It's curated for local makers, standing apart from directories like Yellow Pages or Yelp by focusing on their brand stories. Experts at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business are all in. Their senior policy analyst says small owners juggle too many roles and platforms like this offer real support, especially in tough economic times. Research shows every dollar at a small business keeps 66 cents local, versus just 11 cents at big chains.

1:00So far, 17 businesses have joined, and holidays eyeing pop-up markets for low-cost showcases in five years, starting right here in Calgary, before expanding to other cities. This hustle proves local innovation can boost communities one shop at a time, keeping that money circulating where it counts.