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Top 10 reasons to Think Local, Buy Local, Be Local - from Sustainable Connections
Given the food co-op emphasis on local food systems, I thought I'd share this fantastic list from Sustainable Connections, a Bellingham organization with an innovative approach to developing vibrant local living economies.
Ellensburg's KEEN - Kittitas Environmental Education Network - is of course doing some amazing things to promote the same sorts of initiatives as Sustainable Connections. Our food co-op will be tabling at KEEN's upcoming e3 Winter Fair on January 30th. Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local
- Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned businesses, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.(Click here to see summaries of a variety of economic impact studies; these include case studies showing that locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base.)
- Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from smaller business owners than they do from large businesses.
- Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefit. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust
- Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
- Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community, provide the most jobs to residents.
- Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
- Invest in community: Local businesses are owned by people who live in this community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
- Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
- Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
- Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
Think local first + Buy local when you can = Being a local!
5 comments:
Hi All, great meeting, still moving in the right direction, wherever that may end up.
Quick update from the Producers/Sourcing Group:
Looks like there is a huge variety of vegetables, fruits/nuts and animal products produced in our region of Central Washington. I brought a short list of items available to the meeting last night. It includes everything from Asian Pears to Zucchini, grass-fed beef to goat. We will need to connect with our local producers and get on their routes. When we can't purchase locally we can buy through distributors. All the details will fall into place as we get further along, so let's keep on the big picture at this point and keep this cooperative process moving. See you next week.
Another tidbit of info to support a local Co-Op. This is from the PCC Sound Consumer newsletter:
"The American Farmland Trust cites research suggesting that if every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week made from local, organically grown produce, we would conserve one million barrels of oil in one week. But perhaps the most significant benefit is economic - research done by Sustainable Seattle found that shifting just 20 percent of our food dollars to local choices more than doubles the number of dollars circulating among local businesses."
Wow - nice stat from American Farmland Trust, Sam. Stuff like this will be great for the business plan and outreach/media pieces.
:)
J
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