Go Local National News

quite a year

It’s been quite a year.  The movement for an economy that is just, sustainable, independently owned, and community-rooted has been growing by leaps and bounds.  More people than ever have been moving their money, shifting their shopping, blocking big-box projects, and calling on elected officials to overturn policies that favor big corporations and enact those that support local enterprise.
Here are some inspiring stories from this year:
~ Sales at independent bookstores are up 15 percent so far this holiday season.
~ A town says no to Walmart and opens a community-owned department store instead.
~ Stories of local businesses revival from Asheville, the Boston metro, and Oakland.
~ A new study finds independent businesses generate more local economic activity and jobs than chains.
~ Small business owners do not feel overtaxed and over-regulated, a survey finds.
~ The wealth of the six Waltons, heirs and owners of 48 percent of Walmart stock, equals the combined wealth of the bottom 30 percent of the population.  We’re talking about the 0.000006% here.
~ Saying “buy local” inside a Walmart store can get you arrested.
Walmart wants to be the nation’s biggest primary care provider.

            - information obtained from The Hometown Advantage Bulletin

Local Businesses Key to Income Growth

The results of a new study suggest that the key to reversing the long-term trend of stagnating incomes in the U.S. lies in nurturing small, locally owned businesses and limiting further expansion and market consolidation by large corporations.

Economists Stephan Goetz and David Fleming, both affiliated with Pennsylvania State University and the Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development, conducted the study, “Does Local Firm Ownership Matter?”  It was published in the journal Economic Development Quarterly.

Goetz and Fleming analyzed 2,953 counties, including both rural and urban places, and found that those with a larger density of small, locally owned businesses experienced greater per capita income growth between 2000 and 2007. The presence of large, non-local businesses, meanwhile, had a negative effect on incomes.

“Even after we control for other economic growth determinants … the non-resident-owned medium and large firms consistently and statistically depress economic growth rates … The other major result is that resident-owned small firms have a statistically significant and relatively large positive effect” on income growth, the authors report. Small firms are defined as those with fewer than 100 employees and large firms as those with over 500 employees.

“Subject to the caveat that the 2000-2007 period was unique in American economic history, results presented are remarkably robust in terms of the positive link between small firms that are locally owned and per capita income growth. Medium and larger firms appear to have the opposite effect, especially when they are not locally owned. These include big boxes as well as other chain and nonchain operations that are owned by individuals who are not also residents of the community. Although these types of firms may offer opportunities for jobs, as well as job growth over time, they do so at the cost of reduced local economic growth, as measured by income. Small-sized firms owned by residents are optimal if the policy objective is to maximize income growth rates,” the authors conclude.
—Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher with the New Rules Project

Made in America

“We want to create and sell products all over the world that are stamped with three simple words: ‘Made in America.’ That’s our goal.”

Those were the words of President Obama in December and they now compose the title of a special “World News” series “Made in America,” which focuses on U.S. manufacturing, jobs and what they mean for the nation’s economy.

More than 11 million Americans get their paychecks from working in factories, and according to Moody’s Economy.com, if every American spent an extra $3.33 on U.S.-made goods every year, it would create nearly 10,000 new jobs.

The “Made in America” series kicked off last month with the Usry family of Dallas—Jon, Anna, Landon, Ellis and Amber.

“World News” asked them to take part in an experiment. They were asked to empty their living room, kitchen and master bedroom of all imported products and replace them with goods made in the United States. They were left with the kitchen sink and a lone vase filled with hydrangeas.”

by Enjoli Francis,

ABC World News with Diane Sawer

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/made-america-puts-focus-american-jobs-goods-special/story?id=13401826

Austin June News

We wanted to tell you about a few things happening this month with Go Local Austin.

NEWS!

Go Local Austin has been nominated by the Chamber of Commerce in the Most Uniquely Austin Business category. We are certainly honored and humbled by the nomination! We like to be as unique as you are! Together we’re stronger.

Also, check out this fancy little video from PBS/KLRU’s Green Membership Drive featuring a special Go Local card!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Our 3rd 3rsday Go Local Happy Hour!

Join the Go Local crew, local business owners, and cardholders for a free night of networking and fun on
THURSDAY June 16th at
HOT MAMA’s CAFE
2401 East 6th St.
512-476-6262
Tarot cards, hula hoops, music and FUN!

‘Buy Local’ On The Rise in America

“Most small retailers (51 percent) believe there is a growing ‘buy local’ sentiment in the U.S., according to the American Express OPEN Retail Economic Pulse, a survey of retail small business owners with storefront locations. A majority of those surveyed (55 percent) believe that ‘buy local’ campaigns can help small businesses compete in challenging economic times.
Most small retailers (57 percent) are planning local campaigns in 2011. One in five small retailers also say they plan to give more of their business to local businesses (20 percent) in 2011.
More than one third (36 percent) of small retailers say the biggest incentive for consumers to buy at local, independent businesses is ‘better customer service’. The second biggest incentive is supporting the community by creating local jobs (16 percent).

Overall, half (51 percent) of small retailers will use social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter for their businesses in 2011. Most retail small business owners expect to increase social media in 2011 (37 percent) or keep social media plans the same as 2010 (14 percent).
For key findings from the survey, download the American Express OPEN Retail Economic Pulse Fact Sheet.”
-www.openforum.com