Ning.com (YC alumnus) offers templates for this kind of thing - you can start with a CL lookalike and remove a bunch of sections to simplify. You could consult local businesses and ask them to participate (free), maybe print up some window stickers or do a press release for your local paper, if you have one.

I don't think it's too hard to set up your own domain and transfer it, there's a 'powered by ning' option or similar if you want to host offsite, as I recall.