diff --git a/run_local.sh b/run_local.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2bbd5c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run_local.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Exit on any error
+set -e
+
+echo "Activating virtual environment..."
+source ./venv/bin/activate
+
+echo "Loading environment variables from .env..."
+if [ -f .env ]; then
+    export $(cat .env | grep -v '^#' | xargs)
+    echo "Environment variables loaded from .env"
+else
+    echo "Warning: .env file not found. Continuing without environment variables."
+fi
+
+echo "Starting ingestor application..."
+python -m laborious.worker.worker