Worcester Puts Campaign in Gear

Top photo: U.S. Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester) addresses the nearly 50 attendees of Worcester Local First's 10% Shift campaign announcement on March 16, 2009 at City Hall.

Bottom photo: Worcester Local First Co-Chair Bill Cavanagh (far left) poses with Mayor Konstantina Lukes (second from left) and City Manager Michael O'Brien.

Click here to view these and other photos of the event, taken by 10% Shift campaign organizer Joe Grafton of Somerville Local First.

Click here for Worcester businesses, organizations and individuals who have taken the 10% Shift Pledge.

Do you want to rebuild our economy and revitalize our community?

The 10% Shift campaign wants to help you do just that!

Worcester's 10% Shift campaign was publicly announced on March 16, 2009 in the newly refurbished Levi Lincoln Chamber of City Hall. U.S. Rep. James McGovern (D-Worcester), Mayor Konstantina Lukes and City Manager Michael O'Brien. The event was hosted by the City Manager's Office.

Click here to listen to audio of our March 16 announcement at City Hall, during which Congressman Jim McGovern, Mayor Konnie Lukes and City Managare Mike O'Brien took the 10% Shift peldge. (15 minutes, MP3 format).

Click here for a March 19, 2009 Worcester Magazine article on the 10% Shift campaign, titled "Perfect score."

Click here to watch a 30-minute Soapbox interview, in MP 4 format, by Mauro DePasquale with Worcester's 10% Shift campaign leaders. The episode aired during April 2009 on WCCA-TV/Channel 13, Worcester's community-service channel. WCCA is a Founding Member of Worcester Local First.

The Local First campaigns in Worcester and Somerville are part of a group of local entrepreneurs and citizens from every state in New England, and we invite you to join us in growing a movement that will transform our economy. Together, we can build a strong New England economy and improve our environment by making a modest shift in the way we spend our dollars.

If the five million households in New England shifted just 10% of their existing purchases from non-local businesses to Local Independents (locally owned and independent businesses), we would see thousands of new jobs created and billions of dollars of new economic activity in New England. And all this can begin to happen as soon as people start shifting -- and without the use of one taxpayer dollar.

Click here for more information on the New England-wide 10% Shift campaign, including a "Local Calculator." Using this tool, you can adjust your personal shift, by category, by following three simple steps.

For more information, contact Worcester Local First Coordinator Steve Jones-D'Agostino at 508-930-8675 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Mark Waxler (left) of the Beechwood Hotel and Bill Cavanagh of C.C. Lowell   pose in City Hall with the 10% Shift Proclamation approved unanimously by the City Council on March 3, 2009. Mark is a member and Bill is co-chair of Worcester Local First's Steering Committee. Special thanks to Mayor Konnie Lukes and District 4 City Councilor Barbara Haller for pushing for passage of the proclamation. Both are Founding Friends of Worcester Local First.

Click here to view the

10% Shift Proclamation.

Bill Cavanagh addresses the City Council on March 10, 2009 regarding the 10% Shift campaign's public kickoff announcement on March 16 at 12 noon in the Levi Lincoln Chamnber of City Hall.