With shoppers preparing to spend their hand-earned money on gifts for friends and family far and wide, local business owners are hoping they can keep more of that money here in Selma this holiday season.

Starting Saturday, the city of Selma and the Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce are organizing a campaign called “I love local” to make shoppers aware of the benefits of shopping in Selma.

“The whole purpose of this campaign is to have people shop Selma first during the holiday season,” Chamber of Commerce executive director Sheryl Smedley said. “This is the first time we are doing something like this, and it will be an ongoing promotion. It will last long after the holiday shopping season. This is about stressing the important of these local businesses that are able to give back to this community because of the community’s support for them.”

To participate in the campaign, businesses simply need to offer sales on some or all of their goods, and then display an “I love local” sign in their window. The signs can be obtained by contacting the Chamber of Commerce.

Carl Bowline, with Madden & Associates, is familiar with several of the businesses participating and said he hopes residents of Selma and Dallas County will take note of the bounty of shopping opportunities offered here at home.

“We drive by businesses all the time, thinking we know what they have inside,” Bowline said. “What I suggest is, don’t make assumptions, give those local businesses a chance. You might be surprised by what they have inside.”

Bowline said the partnership between the city, the chamber and local businesses should help the campaign be successful.

“I think this is a great thing for the city and the chamber to get behind,” Bowline said. “These businesses support so many nonprofits in the community throughout the year, and to support them should be a call to action to shop local this holiday season, as well as after this holiday season.”