A new map launching in November in Wisconsin, four other states will uplift businesses committed to safety, connection, and prosperity in their communities
Madison, WI — The new For Better Project sets out to make Wisconsin safer and more connected through a map of small businesses across the state that are invested in their local communities. In addition to Wisconsin, the map will launch this November in Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Ohio with plans to expand nationally.
Local businesses join the map by signing a pledge to undertake research-backed actions that can make their communities safer and more connected, from discouraging harassment and carrying weapons to investing in civic organizations and community improvement initiatives. When the For Better map launches in November ahead of Small Business Saturday, it will give consumers the opportunity to direct their dollars to businesses that are invested in the safety and prosperity of their neighborhoods.
The project is currently recruiting businesses and local community organizations ahead of the November launch of the For Better map. In Wisconsin, popular local businesses like Green Life Trading Co., Fortune Favors, Midwest Sad, and Vintage Rose Bakery & Sandwich Shop have already signed on to the project.
The project encourages businesses to commit to research-based actions to improve lives and reduce crime in their communities. The research behind the pledge shows that:
- Connected communities experience less theft and violent crime.
- Shopping locally creates jobs and keeps money in the community, improving outcomes for the people who work and live in the surrounding area.
- More prosperity means better outcomes for public safety.
See the full fact sheet for the project here.
The lead organizer of the For Better Project is Guns Down America, a nonprofit focused on corporate accountability for gun violence prevention. Partners of the project include the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort (WAVE), Moms Against Gun Violence Wisconsin, economic mobility organizations, and anti-violence groups like Faith Leaders for Ending Gun Violence. The ultimate goal of For Better is safer, more connected communities through locally imagined public-private-nonprofit partnerships rooted in proven strategies for improving people’s lives.
“The For Better Project is an effort to get whole communities imagining a better future and moving towards it, together,” said Hudson Munoz, Executive Director of Guns Down America. “Local businesses have immense untapped power to connect, unite, and improve the communities they serve. We’re engaging with these business leaders and helping them harness strategies proven to make every neighbor’s life safer and better. Consumers get to spend their money with businesses that are invested in them, businesses thrive as their neighborhoods grow safer and more prosperous, and entire communities transform. It’s a win-win-win.”
Businesses can sign on to the project and consumers can nominate local businesses to join the map at ForBetterProject.org. Community organizations can email hello@forbetterproject.org to become a partner of the project.
