Cash mob fever is spreading from Michigan to Louisiana andOhio.

Michigan credit unions will participate in their second annualCU Lunch Local, a one-day cash mob to support and patronize local businesses.

Louisiana and Ohio credit unions are the latest to join in theeffort, which will take place Oct. 15.

The Louisiana Credit Union League's Member Business ServicesCouncil heard about CU Lunch Local last year and knew this wassomething they wanted to be involved in, said Jennifer Green, vicepresident of the league.

“Credit unions are the epitome of locally owned and operated,”Green said. “CU Lunch Local is a win-win for credit unions andlocal businesses. Local businesses will get a boost throughincreased patronage, and hopefully credit unions will pick up somebusiness, too.”

Green said one of the goals of the MBSC is to help credit unionsprovide business services to their members and CU Lunch Local“provides a fantastic opportunity for our credit unions to showlocal business owners that we are there to support them.”

“Although credit unions are recognized by many as strongsupporters of their communities, we've learned that oftentimes,businesses don't know about the services credit unions provide,particularly on the commercial side, so we're encouraging creditunions that offer business services to provide information to thelocal business owners when they 'lunch local,'” Green said.

The Ohio Credit Union League is coordinating local food trucks topartner with credit unions throughout the state, said KimberlyStewart, consumer outreach coordinator at the league. Each foodtruck will be asked to donate 10% of its profits to Marching Milesfor Miracle Kids, benefiting the nine children's hospitals servingOhioans, and participating credit unions will match the fundsraised.

So far, there are eight participating food trucks, each of whichis matched up with a credit union in their area, Stewart added.

“Working together, we can promote local food trucks, generateawareness for credit unions, and support the services of theChildren's Miracle Network Hospitals,” Stewart said.

CU Lunch Local began in 2012 as a one-day small business cashmob driven by Michigan credit unions.

In the fledgling event, hundreds of local businesses receivedsupport and if this success is matched, Michigan could seethousands of small businesses reached this year, said BillBeardsley, CEO of the commercial lending CUSO Michigan Business Connection LLC in Ann Arbor, which hasspearheaded the event.

“Encouraging consumers to choose businesses local to them is notonly a boost to that community's economy, but a benefit to ourentire nation,” Beardsley said. “Providing entrepreneurs withcapital to grow their business is an important first step,encouraging our credit union staff and membership to patronizelocal businesses leads to long term success.”

CU Lunch Local coincides with International Credit Union Week,an annual celebration of financial cooperatives and their membersaround the globe.

Credit unions interested in participating with the CU LunchLocal can find more information on the event's Facebook page.