With the coronavirus taking an economic toll in the United States and globally, two Wisconsin newspaper publishers last week launched websites to support local businesses in their communities.
The websites, run by Gannett and Capital Newspapers, offer residents one place where they can support a variety of small businesses. While they vary in their approach, both websites recognize the need to keep these businesses in the community.
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Gannett, which in Wisconsin publishes the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Green Bay Press-Gazette and several other daily and weekly newspapers, launched supportlocal.usatoday.com on March 23. The website is a nationwide effort, one that goes beyond the dozens of cities in which Gannett publishes newspapers. Users can search by city to find a list of local businesses to support in their community.
The listings include a map of the businesses, a link to their websites and a link to where users can buy gift cards for the various companies. Additional local businesses can be added by customers or business owners.
Capital Newspapers, which publishes the Wisconsin State Journal and The Cap Times in Madison, as well as several other newspapers in the area, launched its Support Local Now website on Sunday. Users will find a directory of Madison-area businesses listed by category, along with phone numbers and links to their websites. Business owners also can add updated hours, allowing users to keep up with the changes caused by COVID-19.
Tom Wiley, publisher of the State Journal and president of Capital Newspapers, said in a story announcing the website that it is a “tool for the community to stay connected with local businesses” while staying home over the next month.
