WILTON — An effort to encourage people to think about buying items from local businesses is set for launch Friday.

The Think Local First campaign, an effort of the Wilton Group, offers the public a showcase of businesses already enrolled in the program with a gathering from 5 to 7 p.m. June 24 at Wilson Grange on Main Street.

Aimed at raising awareness of what is available in Wilton, the campaign promotes a change in attitude and stopping to think, “‘What can I get in town before heading out of town,'” Eileen Liddy, chairwoman of the Think Local First committee said.

Other communities have done it. It took Portland a couple years, but they have nearly 400 independent businesses involved in their program. Others along the coast have also worked on efforts to support the local businesses in their communities, she said.

From her work in health education, Liddy said awareness is needed before there’s a change in behavior.

“We need to think about it first. There are things you can’t buy in Wilton, but there are many things that you can,” she said.

For instance, the town’s hardware store has everything from project supplies to items to repair screens, as well as gardening supplies, and they also serve as the drop-off for Butler Dry Cleaning.

The Friday launch and appearances at Third Thursdays and the Blueberry Festival are geared toward growing awareness and recruiting businesses, she said. The group endorses business-to-business buying.

With 120 businesses in Wilton, the group is expanding a directory listing on its website, www.wiltongroup.org, Susan Atwood said.

Many people work out of town, but support of local business begins with just stopping for a moment and thinking before making a purchase, she said.

“Our goal is to publicize the values provided by community-based businesses and their importance to the local economy. We are looking to residents and businesses for their support,” Atwood said.

Wilton Group membership is open to anyone, but the level of membership determines whether the business becomes part of the Think Local First program, Liddy said. The charges are necessary to help the group remain self-sustaining, but there are a number of perks for membership of $51 or more.

For the public, the Friday launch provides an opportunity to see the variety of items and services some Wilton businesses offer, Liddy added.

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