What does LOCAL mean?

"Local" is a growing movement in American commerce. Some 30,000 small businesses have organized themselves into "local business alliances" in more than 130 cities. The movement is phenomenally popular with consumers, who like the personality and uniqueness of homegrown enterprises and prefer to buy from people who keep consumer dollars moving through the local economy.

As a result of the movement's financial success, many more businesses are joining the local push. For example, such down-home outfits as Barnes & Noble, CVS, Frito Lay, HSBC, Starbucks, Unilever and Wal-Mart are trying to get in on the action.

Believe it or not, these giants are using TV ads and other promotional outlets to hawk their centralized, standardized and globalized brands as "local." Here are a few of the twists they've made in the straightforward definition of the term:

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Buy local movement in the Phillipines

Globalization has become a convenient mantra for developed economies. It is invoked if a developing country, to protect vital local industries, refuses to allow the free entry of foreign-made products into its market.

But if that country tries to export products that may adversely affect the developed country's productivity, the latter is quick to impose health, environmental and all kinds of conditions to delay, if not prevent, those exports.

So much for globalization or free trade. When the national interests are involved, these buzzwords can go bust!

This coming holiday season presents a good opportunity for us to play the same game that developed countries, if not the rest of the world, are engaged in to protect their economies.

It does not need an MBA education to understand that every centavo spent to buy local products translates to the retention or expansion of jobs in the agricultural and industrial sectors of our country.

The money that would subsidize the farmers or workers of other countries through the purchase of their goods would find better use in the pockets of our own people.

Contrary to the mistaken belief of many (no thanks to deceptive advertising), there is a wealth of local products that can meet the requirements of even the most sophisticated gift-givers in our society.

All it takes to do that is to get out of the traditional zone of colonial mentality and be imaginative in the choice of locally made gifts that would make their recipients happy and, at the same time, keep our economy humming.

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Dine Out Local Program / New York

The first Local Restaurant Week in Western New York occurred back in March, attracting diners with the promise of good food at the reasonable rate of $20.09. The March event coincided with the original restaurant week established in New York City over 30 years ago. The September version is unique to Western New York and is billed as a celebration of the fall harvest.

According to Peter Longo, president of the NYSRA, the purpose of the event is to facilitate people going to a local, independent restaurant and celebrating, sharing, and strengthening the bond between local restaurateurs, wineries, and brewers. With more than 100 restaurants participating, Longo is projecting that the week of dining could generate nearly $2 million for the local dining scene.

The Food Bank of Western New York stands to benefit, too. Each restaurant participating in the event is being asked to make a donation to the Food Bank of Western New York. 

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SLICE Aims to Bring Community Together to Build Co-ops

An energized cooperative movement has thrust the co-op business model into the spotlight, prompting interest in why this centuries-old way of need-meeting is experiencing a renaissance. In support of next-wave cooperative enterprise, October 3 at Richard Hugo House, Central Co-op and the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Seattle will host Strengthening Local Independent Co-ops Everywhere (SLICE), a day-long workshop on cooperative basics for nascent and existing co-ops and folks who want to buff up their co-op engagement.

"SLICE is an opportunity to get people together to grow, from the grassroots, a new, cooperative network that's accessible, inclusive, and poised to promote the strength and relevance of co-ops," said Aaron Waldkoetter, a SLICE organizer and Central Co-op worker.

With the region's best and brightest co-op mentors, participants will gain an understanding of how to start a cooperative, best practices, nitty-gritty details, and inspiration. The highly interactive program will address different co-op models and how to get incorporated; assessing needs and creating community tools to fulfill them; team structure and development; global cooperation; generating capital and equity; and coalition building.

In addition to a comprehensive workshop schedule and the chance to network with other cooperators, SLICE goers will enjoy coffee and tea, compliments of Equal Exchange co-op, breakfast and lunch catered by Central Co-op, and beer, courtesy of worker-owned Full Sail Brewery. Visit madisonmarket.coop to learn more, purchase your $30 ticket, sign-up for work-trade, or apply for one of 13 scholarships, made possible by Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union and Group Health Credit Union.

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AGRICULTURE DEPUTY SECRETARY MERRIGAN ANNOUNCES INITIATIVE TO CONNECT CHILDREN TO WHERE THEIR FOOD COMES FROM AND PROVIDE MORE LOCAL FOODS IN SCHOOL LUNCHES

New Farm-to-School Tactical Teams Will Assist School Administrators Transition to Purchasing More Locally Grown Foods as Part of USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food Initiative'  

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2009 – Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced a new initiative to better connect children to their food and create opportunities for local farmers to provide their harvest to schools in their communities as part of USDA's 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative. USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) will team together and form 'Farm to School Tactical Teams' to assist school administrators as they transition to purchasing more locally grown foods.

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Contribute 2009

Job loss, foreclosure and greater demand at local food banks. These aren't just stories on a newscast. Americans are struggling. Small businesses are at risk.  We must rally to help small businesses in our communities – the very businesses that often lead an economic recovery.  

So what can you do?

One idea. 100,000 people. $5 million.  It all adds up to big help for small business.

Our goal is to inspire 100,000 people to pledge to spend an extra $50 at locally owned small businesses on October 12, 2009.  That's a $5 million economic infusion that can create a ripple effect in communities across the nation.

Dollars spent at community-based merchants create a multiplier effect in the local economy. The American Independent Business Alliance estimates that for every dollar spent at a local independent merchant, three or more times as much goes back into the local economy compared to a dollar spent at chain-owned businesses.  By pledging to spend just $50 at a locally owned small business and encouraging others to do the same, we can spread the word and collectively contribute to small businesses and to our surrounding communities.

http://www.scentsycontribute.org/

Taking the '10 percent challenge'

Taking the '10 percent challenge' Idaho Mountain Express and Guide The organization asked all citizens, local businesses, government agencies and nonprofits to spend 10 percent of their annual budgets at local independent ...

Indie Booksellers and Localization

The ABA officially launched the IndieBound program at BookExpo America in Los Angeles in May. It is designed to help not only booksellers but all independent merchants at a time when competing with large chains has become increasingly difficult.

IndieBound is designed to bring together booksellers, readers, independent retailers, local business alliances and others who believe that healthy local economies help communities thrive.

Following a year of study and planning, the ABA designed a program to tap into a growing national movement, creating new and interesting ways for independent booksellers and other independent businesses to better communicate their core strengths - independence, passion, community - to their customers.

"America has clearly reached a tipping point - people are choosing Main Street over malls," said Poe. "Nationwide, people are renewing their ties to friends, neighbors, and institutions in their cities and towns. Through IndieBound, we believe booksellers and other indie retailers are at the forefront of a movement that is already being embraced by shoppers."

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The 3/50 project in Dallas

Get Grant Outta Your Pants

Pick 3, Spend 50, Save the Local Economy

By DEBORAH FERGUSON

A movement to get shoppers back into locally-owned, independent businesses is catching on in North Texas.

The 3/50 Project encourages shoppers to spend $50 a month at three independent stores.

"It doesn't have to be $50 in each store," explained Betsy Swango, co-owner of The Write Selection in Dallas. "It just has to be $50 a month."

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Our Pro-Business City Council

by Jim Wilkinson , The Empire Report

Sep 02, 2009 06:25 PM

It turns out we have a pro-business City Council, strongly supportive of our local entrepreneurs and family establishments. In the epic battle of Lowe's vs. local business, the Santa Rosa City Council's progressive majority came down firmly in favor of the latter. That was the right thing to do, although regrettably some bad ideas linger on about how to plan for the 21st century.

Yesterday (9/1), the Council heard – over and over again – the many strong arguments against adding a Lowe's store to the Santa Rosa Ave. strip mall. The list of adverse impacts included worsening traffic congestion, loss of affordable housing sites, lowering of wage scales, reduced revenues for local charities and financial out-flows via big corporation headquarters back east. In the end, however, the Council's decision turned on whether Lowe's would really bring in new money or just siphon it away from existing stores in a saturated market, killing off home-grown businesses in the process.

City Manager Kolin sounded almost desperate when he unabashedly affirmed his passion for city revenue. Council Members Bender and Olivares joined him in blithely turning aside evidence there will be little or no net gain in jobs or sales tax. They were on the one hand seduced by Lowe's self-serving assertion that untold numbers of Santa Rosans now drive to Cotati just so they can shop at Lowe's; and on the other hand haunted by the dubious "threat" that Lowe's might go to, say, Windsor.

[full article from The Empire Report]

Santa Rosa Council kills Lowes project

By ROBERT DIGITALE

THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Tuesday, September 1, 2009

In a community where environmentalists and the business community often have battled over who will sit on the City Council, Tuesday was a rare occasion where the two sides came together to oppose what they saw as a common opponent.

The business leaders opposing Lowe's included Exchange Bank President William Schrader, Skyhawk Village Market owner Mike Runyon, Clover Stornetta President Marcus Benedetti, Friedman's Home Improvement President Bill Friedman and La Tortilla Factory co-owner Carlos Tamayo.

Their presence sent a message, as Oliver's Market General Manager Tom Scott put it, that "we local retailers need to stick together against the big guys." And they warned that the community would be less well off if Lowe's were allowed to build here.

"I love the city of Santa Rosa's campaign of 'buy local, shop local, eat local,' said Jodie Lau, whose family owns G&G Supermarkets. "Remember that? By allowing this box store to go through, this is not supporting local."

The council listened to two hours of public comment Tuesday, most of it opposing Lowe's plan. More than 100 people turned out for the hearing at City Hall.

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