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Michigan Credit Unions Celebrate Hometown Businesses with ‘CU Lunch Local’ Program on Oct. 16
Credit unions across Michigan are putting their money where their mouth is on Tuesday – by buying breakfast, lunch and other treats “cash mob”-style from local restaurants as part of a statewide program supporting local businesses.
During the daylong CU Lunch Local program, credit unions and their employees will support a local business for everything from getting breakfast or lunch to purchasing gifts for staff. Dozens of Michigan credit unions, with hundreds of employees, across the state are participating in CU Lunch Local.
“Christian Financial Credit Union employees and members are ‘lunching local’ to show our continued support for the small businesses that drive our economy forward,” said Macomb County’s Christian Financial Credit Union Marketing Manager Rebekah Johnson. “Employees at each of our branches have committed to either order in or visit a local restaurant for lunch on Oct. 16. We’ve armed our staff with a list of local restaurants to support that day, and in addition, the credit union will reimburse employees up to $10 for ‘lunching local’ and sharing their experience with others.”
Patty Campbell, president and CEO of Christian Financial CU, will be joined by Bill Beardsley, president and CEO of Michigan Business Connection, for lunch at the Majestic Café, a landmark restaurant in Detroit with a long business partnership with CFCU.
“We have a strong tradition in Muskegon of supporting hometown businesses and buying local as much as we can, so CU Lunch Local is another opportunity for our credit union to showcase our commitment,” said Janet (Jan) K. Hermann, president and CEO of Muskegon Government Employees FCU. “We encourage everyone in our community to join us not just today, but every day in doing our part to support local hometown businesses in the Muskegon area.”
MGEFCU is ordering lunch for all its employees from two locally owned restaurants in the neighborhoods they serve, Mike’s Landing and Bellacino’s.
With offices in Lansing and Livonia, the Michigan Credit Union League – the trade association representing credit unions statewide – is also participating, buying locally-made treats for employees in both locations.
David Adams, CEO of Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates said: “Michigan credit unions support small businesses in so many ways, including business lending that helps create jobs and turn the state’s economy around,” “This is an opportunity to show everyone just how big the credit union commitment to small business really is.”
The participating credit unions are:
In Wayne County, participating credit unions are: Public Service Credit Union in Romulus; Wyandotte FCU in Wyandotte; Parkside Credit Union and Co-op Services CU in Livonia; Shore to Shore Credit Union in Trenton; Community Alliance Credit Union in Dearborn; and Communicating Arts CU in Detroit.
In Oakland County, credit unions celebrating CU Lunch Local are: Michigan Catholic Credit Union based in Troy; Affinity Group CU in Pontiac; Cornerstone Community CU in Auburn Hills; LOC Federal Credit Union and Chiropractic Federal CU in Farmington; Community Choice CU in Farmington Hills; and OUR Credit Union in Royal Oak.
In Macomb County, participating credit unions also include: Motor City Co-op CU in Clinton Township; ARC Credit Union in Roseville and Central Macomb Credit Union in Macomb.
Other credit unions on both Michigan peninsulas also celebrating local businesses as part of CU Lunch Local include: Forest Area FCU in Kalkaska; Lake Trust Credit Union based in Lansing; EECU in the Jackson; Northland Area FCU in Oscoda; Sunrise Family CU in Standish; Dort FCU and ELGA Credit Union in Flint; Saginaw-based United Financial Credit Union, Wanigas CU, Catholic FCU and Wildfire Credit Union; Frankenmuth CU; Battle Creek-based United Educational CU, Kellogg Community FCU and Grand Trunk EFCU; Kalamazoo-based First Community FCU and Consumers Credit Union; Marshall Community Credit Union; Mt. Pleasant-based Isabella Community Credit Union; Settlers FCU in Ontonagon County in the western Upper Peninsula; West Michigan CU, Meijer Credit Union, Community West Credit Union and First United DCU based in the Grand rapids area; Onaway United FCU in Onaway; Chippewa County Credit Union and SOO Co-op in Sault Ste. Marie; Honor Credit Union in St. Joseph; E&A Credit Union in Port Huron; Monroe County Community Credit Union based in Monroe; and United Bay Credit Union and Financial Edge CCU based in Bay City.
CU Lunch Local aims to raise awareness about the importance of supporting local small businesses across Michigan. Studies show that money spent at local businesses tend to stay in the community and a greater percentage of every dollar spent is recirculated at the local level when compared with non-local businesses. CU Lunch Local is sponsored by Michigan CU Capital, a credit union organization formed in 2011 in collaboration with Michigan Business Connection, a commercial lending CUSO.
“CU Lunch Local is a powerful way to illustrate the credit union commitment to small businesses and the real proactive difference credit unions make to the communities they serve,” MBC CEO Bill Beardsley said. “Every dollar spent makes a difference when it goes to local business, and no one knows that better than our credit union community.”
Cash mob events are similar to flash mob events, but with one key difference. Instead of dancing in the street, people who participate in cash mob events spend money.
Their goal is to support local businesses and encourage others to buy local. On Tuesday, Oct. 16, dozens of credit unions from all around the state will commit to dine, shop, or buy local.
To learn more about the event visit MI CU Capital’s Facebook page at, www.facebook.com/MICUCapital.
About the Michigan Credit Union League & Affiliates
Organized in 1934, the Michigan Credit Union League is a trade association representing credit unions statewide. Based in Lansing, the MCUL offers credit unions assistance in the areas of regulatory compliance, legislative advocacy, media advocacy and operational information. For more information, visit www.mcul.org and follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MICreditUnions and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MICreditUnions.
About MI CU Capital
Michigan CU Capital is a shared symbol of credit union commitment to serve Michigan business and create awareness of the credit union industry’s capabilities in business lending. Credit unions believe that working together to help their business members and their communities succeed by providing them with financial support is a critical part of their mission. Michigan CU Capital is a collaborative approach that enables even more credit unions to promote their successes. Founded in late 2011 and powered by Michigan Business Connection (www.mbcloans.biz), MI CU Capital promotes the credit union difference. To learn more about MI CU Capital visit their website or their Facebook page at, www.facebook.com/MICUCapital.