What The Local Project does

The Local Project, doing business as CONNECTLocal, is a white-label local commerce platform operated as an initiative of ENet Business, LLC (ENet Technologies). Founded around 2016 after discussions began in fall 2015, the company builds branded mobile (iOS, Android) and web applications that municipalities, chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, downtown districts, tourism groups, fundraising partners, and local network operators deploy under their own brand in their communities. The platform's core thesis is that local businesses need more than a directory — they need tools to attract, capture, incentivize, retain, and track customers.

The product comprises a central CONNECTLocal platform with eight integrated modules: Business Profiles with directory/search and map, Offers & Promotions with redemption tracking, Events Calendar, Smart Community Messaging (dual-channel app + SMS), Keyword Campaigns (text-a-keyword-to-VIP auto-enrollment), VIP Customer Engagement Program, Community Rewards (LocalCASH, a cross-merchant currency), and Analytics & Reporting. A Network Owner Portal and individual Business Dashboard provide command centers for operators and merchants. The platform is built and maintained in-house by ENet's software, web, and digital marketing teams.

The business model is subscription-based network licensing: civic and community organizations pay to launch and operate branded CONNECTLocal networks in their territories, with pricing negotiated per community through interest forms and demo calls (no publicly disclosed tiers). Go-to-market is sales-led combined with a channel-partner motion in which local organizations act as network operators, leveraging ENet's 20+ year digital technology heritage. The company is privately held, headquartered in the United States, with 13 employees and active coast-to-coast US expansion underway.

Name

The Local Project

Legal name

The Local Project

Website

https://localproject.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Local Project operates CONNECTLocal, a white-label local commerce platform that enables municipalities, chambers of commerce, and community organizations to launch branded mobile and web networks with merchant tools, rewards, messaging, and analytics.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Commerce Platform

NAICS

Media Representatives (54184), Local Messengers and Local Delivery (492210), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310), Telegraph & Other Message Communications (4822)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Search & Business Directories (BPAMAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local & City Guide Content Aggregators (MPACAKAJ), Local & Neighborhood Communities (BPAMABAG), Local Experiences & Event Services Marketplaces (Photographers, Caterers, DJs) (BPAMAHAK)

Keywords

• Local commerce platform
• Community mobile app
• White-label business network
• Municipal marketing software
• Loyalty rewards platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Platform Subscription / Network Licensing: Organizations (municipalities, chambers, etc.) pay to launch and operate branded CONNECTLocal networks in their communities. The platform provides tools for business visibility, customer engagement, community communication, and local commerce.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Local Project provides CONNECTLocal, a white-label, branded local business network platform delivered as a mobile app (iOS/Android) and web application. It enables municipalities, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, and local operators to launch and operate their own branded local commerce networks, offering participating businesses tools for visibility, customer engagement, offers, events, SMS-based keyword marketing, VIP customer management, and a community-wide rewards currency (LocalCASH).

Product overview

The Local Project offers CONNECTLocal as a unified local commerce platform designed to help municipalities, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, and local operators build branded local business networks. The platform consists of a core CONNECTLocal Platform with a Branded Mobile App (iOS, Android, Web), backed by eight integrated modules: Business Profiles, Offers & Promotions, Event Calendar, Smart Community Messaging, Keyword Campaigns, VIP Customer Engagement Program, Community Rewards (LocalCASH), and Analytics & Reporting. Additional features include Business Directory, Network Owner Portal, and Business Dashboard. The platform is built and maintained by ENet Technologies and is offered as a managed service with ongoing support, rather than as self-hosted or API-accessible software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CONNECTLocal Platform A white-label, branded local business network platform delivered via mobile apps (iOS, Android) and a web application, designed for municipalities, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, and local operators to launch and manage their own local commerce networks.
• CONNECTLocal Mobile App Branded mobile application (Apple App, Android App, and Web App) that allows communities to discover local businesses, offers, events, rewards, news, and more in one place.

Quantifiable outcome

• Launch in 60 days or less
• +1 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ENet Business, LLC (ENet Technologies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENet Business, LLC (ENet Technologies) is the parent company and technology provider behind TheLocalProject. As a 20+ year old digital technology company with capabilities in application/software development, web development, search optimization, and digital marketing, ENet provides all technology services necessary to develop and maintain TheLocalProject platform. ENet team members who were early pioneers in web localization joined forces to form TheLocalProject.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Yelp: Dominant local business discovery and reviews platform in the US. Highly comparable to CONNECTLocal's business directory, profile, and offers functionality, though Yelp is a national consumer brand rather than a white-label municipal platform.
• Nextdoor: Hyperlocal community and commerce platform connecting residents with local businesses through deals, events, and discovery. Closely comparable to CONNECTLocal's neighborhood engagement and local business promotion model.
• GrowthZone (ChamberMaster): Membership management and chamber software platform used by chambers of commerce for member directories, events, and communications. Directly competes for the same chamber-of-commerce budget and overlaps in directory, event, and member-engagement features.
• MainstreetHub (now The Hoth Local / Vendasta): Tech-enabled local commerce solution provider serving municipalities and small businesses with digital marketing, content, and engagement tools. Closely comparable white-label local commerce model for cities and chambers.
• ShopLocal: Local commerce platform providing retailers and communities with digital circulars, offers, and shopper engagement tools. Comparable business and community promotion functionality at the local-network level.

Broad incumbents

• TownSquare Interactive: Broader local SMB digital marketing platform offering websites, SEO, social, and reputation management to small businesses. Adjacent competitor for local merchant marketing budgets with a wider product portfolio.
• Google Business Profile: Free local business discovery and merchant toolset from Google, embedded in Search and Maps. The dominant incumbent for local business visibility and a key reason municipalities struggle to drive traffic to local alternatives.
• Facebook Local (Meta): Meta's local events, marketplace, and business pages serve as a free, massive-scale platform for local community promotion and small business marketing. The largest competitive threat to any local commerce network's audience growth.

Emerging players

• Alignable: Small business referral and networking network, often used by local merchants and chambers. Comparable community-and-local-business engagement model, though more focused on business-to-business networking than consumer commerce.
• CiviCore: Civic engagement and community engagement platform used by municipalities for resident communication, surveys, and event promotion. Comparable to CONNECTLocal's Smart Community Messaging and municipal-facing modules.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Local Project