News

November 3, 2009

Saline’s HSA Lends Support to Growing Initiative to Shop and Buy Locally

SALINE, MI (November 3, 2009) – “Pick 3. Spend 50. Support your local economy.” That’s the rallying cry of The 3/50 Project, a grass-roots initiative to encourage people to shop and buy locally.

3/50 projectHomeowner Services of America, Inc., a Saline-based home remodeling firm, has signed on as an official supporter of the program, whose tagline is: “Saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on.”

The 3/50 Project asks each employed adult to pick three independently owned businesses in their area that would be missed most if the businesses were gone. The participant then commits to spend at least $50 at each of these establishments.

The program’s Web site, www.the350project.net, quantifies the impact on a community of shopping and buying locally in this way. Per the site, for every $100 spent in local independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. By comparison, spending $100 in a national chain store keeps only $43 in the community.

“With holiday shopping in swing,” says David Rhoads, HSA’s founder, owner, and president, “following the 3/50 plan – pick 3, spend 50, shop locally – can be a great way to show support for our community’s businesses.”

The 3/50 Project originated with an enthusiastically received item on the www.AlwaysUpward.com blog written by Cinda Baxter, a retail consultant, former storeowner, and professional speaker. A flyer, a Web site, and a burgeoning roster of supporting companies, now numbering well into the thousands, soon followed. The 3/50 Project has been covered in The Wall Street Journal, on CNN, and in many other local and national media – print, broadcast, and online.

Those interested in participating in The 3/50 Project can learn more at www.the350project.net. They may also visit HSA’s headquarters at 199 W. Michigan Ave. in downtown Saline for copies of the flyer explaining the program. Participants are invited to distribute the flyers to others who may want to join in on this growing campaign to “shop and buy locally.”

About HSA

Since 1985, HSA has completed over 600 remodeling projects for homeowners in Saline, Ann Arbor, and surrounding communities. The company specializes in kitchens, baths, additions, dormers, and master suites. Another HSA specialty is to make Aging-in-Place modifications to homes for safe, comfortable living by senior citizens and physically challenged people. David Rhoads of HSA has earned the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the American Association of Retired People (AARP) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

HSA is a member of the Washtenaw Remodelers Council of the Builders & Remodelers Association of Greater Ann Arbor (BRAGAA; www.bragannarbor.com). BRAGAA was formerly known as the Home Builders Association of Washtenaw County (HBAWC). David Rhoads is a past president of the HBAWC. The HBAWC honored Rhoads as the 2007 Builder of the Year.

HSA is also a member of the Michigan Association of Home Builders (MAHB; www.buildingmichigan.org).

David Rhoads is a member of the Saline City Council, and the city’s Mayor Pro Tem. He is also currently the president of the Saline Area Historical Society.

In addition, Rhoads serves on the board of directors of the Friends of Henne Field (www.hennefield.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to redeveloping an under-utilized recreation area near downtown Saline.

In 2004, the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce selected Rhoads as Saline’s Citizen of the Year in recognition of his community involvement.

Homeowner Services of America, Inc. can be contacted at 199 W. Michigan Ave., Saline, MI 48176. Phone: (734) 944-3337. Fax: (734) 944-3371. Email: sales@hsa-remodel.com.

Media Contact:

David Rhoads
Homeowner Services of America, Inc.
(734) 944–3337
david@hsa–remodel.com
www.hsa–remodel.com

Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub, Inc.
(734) 944-8705
chris@design-hub.com