A group of Fredericton business and economic agencies have come together to let citizens know what local businesses are open and how to do business with them.

The #SupportFredLocal partnership wants to encourage residents to buy from local businesses. It has set up a dedicated webpage that directs residents to businesses that are open or offering alternative forms of purchasing, like online shopping, take-out, and delivery.

This partnership hopes to amplify the work these agencies have already done in creating “open-for-business” lists. During the coming weeks, there will also be a concerted effort to direct residents to the #SupportFredLocal webpage to encourage more sales for merchants.

“The heart of our community is often the strength that helps us meet challenges,” said Larry Shaw, CEO of Ignite Fredericton, one of the members of the partnership. “The COVID 19 pandemic has challenged every aspect of our lives. We may not see the end as of yet, but our response was predictable. Fredericton joined forces, engaged its citizens, businesses, stakeholders, and partners to find creative ways to keep moving forward.”

The members of the partnership are: the City of Fredericton (Tourism); Fredericton Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Fredericton Inc.; Business Fredericton North; and Ignite Fredericton.

The members said in a statement this economic development effort complements the City's coronavirus resource page, and other works in development, like 'People Helping People,' to help residents connect with local resources.