Chamber takes on project

The Mineral County Chamber of Commerce is undertaking a new project.

President Robert Lyons said that rather than wait for the regular phonebook to include county businesses, services and organizations in Mineral County, it is time that Mineral County had its own yellow pages. So, that is why the chamber has started work on creating the “Mineral County Yellow Pages.”

The book will be separate from the regular phonebook and exist throughout the county in its own form. It will be available to Mineral County residents and available at hotels and other places for visitors.

The book will function like the yellow pages in the phone book. Businesses or individuals offering services, from babysitting to horse shoeing to painting, will be invited to list their information in the book for a small cost. The book will also list all county and city offices, nonprofit organizations and more as well as the Horizons resource guide will also be included.

“We want to encourage the habit of looking for locally supplied goods and services and keeping Mineral County money in Mineral County,” Lyons said.

Lyons himself has found out that people don’t know what is available in the county. He said that while people may know what is available in the respective town they live in they don’t know what’s outside and available county wide.

“In the West End for example, everyone out there knows what everyone does, but people in Superior don’t know what they do,” Lyons said.

Lyons admits that he himself is still unaware of some services available in the county and is still becoming aware of them.

“I drove to Missoula one day to get my computer modem repaired. Besides the two hour drive roundtrip, I had to wait three hours for the work to be completed. Later that evening, I mentioned my experience to a fellow fireman and he informed me we have two or three sources available in Superior for computer repairs,” Lyons said. “I could have avoided the drive, saved gas, gotten my computer repaired and kept the money in the hands of Mineral County residents.”

Lyons said that when he started asking around he was amazed at the people who didn’t even know where to find pizza in Mineral County or the fact that there is a Laundromat in Superior.

“How much money have these businesses not received because residents or visitors didn’t know these services were available and couldn’t find them listed in the existing yellow pages?” Lyons said.

Lyons pointed out that in these tough economic times, it is vital that every available dollar supports local businesses and this is why the chamber is working toward creating a inclusive local yellow pages book.

“It will be very inexpensive for businesses to do multiple ads to better promote (themselves),” Lyons said.

Lyons said that the goal with the book is to go beyond storefronts. They want to include as many service and product providers, local nonprofits and organizations as possible.

“We are not doing this to make money. We are charging a minimal fee because we are going to have printing costs and distribution costs, but any money leftover is going into the buy local program,” Lyons said.

The Mineral County Yellow Pages book is actually going to serve as a tool for the buy local program. The chamber received a small grant of $400 toward the buy local program and one of the first things they are doing is redesigning the stickers. The slogan of the campaign is “Local businesses, use them or lose them.”

“This book is the tool that is going to make the buy local program work because if people don’t  know what’s available then how can they shop local,” Lyons said. “We want people to put the big book out in the garage. Check the little book first and if you can’t find it in here then go look in the big book. We want people to turn to the little book first.”

Lyons said that they want to talk to as many businesses as they can and anyone who provides a service in the county. Lyons said that if anyone is interested in learning more and for the prices to call the chamber at 822-4800. Lyons himself can also be contacted at 822-4749.

“We want to help you increase your income and to help keep those dollars in our communities,” Lyons said.

Lyons will also be hosting a meeting in the DeBorgia Schoolhouse on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. and making a presentation about what the project is all about.