Spend $20 on the 20th

Tennesseans are sometimes referred to as less than brilliant by outsiders, but I know different. Not that we are all neurologists or anything, but I know some incredibly smart people. We are also creative! We have some folks right here in my backyard creating their own stimulus plan:


Local newspapers and businesses in 2 East Tennessee counties are executing their own economic stimulus plan this weekend. They're calling it "Spend $20 on the 20th," and it's getting a lot of community support.


Readers of Wednesday's edition of The Daily Post-Athenian in Athens found a special section promoting some big bargains.


"We were trying to come up with something that would help people and help the consumer, as well," said publisher Tommy Wilson.
The plan is simple: ask everyone in the community to spend at least $20 at local businesses on Saturday, June 20.
"It's really important that you help these Mom-and-Pop's, because because they've got their whole lives based on these businesses," Wilson said.
Local businesses taking part in the promotion paid $20 for an ad offering special deals for shoppers.


"I was surprised at how many businesses actually got into it," said Jamie McKenzie, owner of McKenzie's Books. "There were 6 or 8 pages full."
McKenzie says many people simply don't realize what shopping options are available locally.


"Every day we're open, at least one person comes in and says they didn't know we were here, and we've been here 2 years," McKenzie said.


"Obviously, we don't have the big restaurants and movie theaters and that kind of thing," said Rob Preston, President and CEO of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. "But as far as the retail, the shopping, you can pretty much get it all here."
And getting people to think locally is more advantageous than any ad.


"Those are jobs, people that are also going to go out and shop," Wilson said. "It goes beyond a few bucks that you might save."


The News-Herald in Loudon County is also participating in the same promotion this weekend.


Wouldn't it be awesome if we could all have a day like this?