Drafts


 * OUTLINE:**

1) INTRO - Statistic: If every family in the US spend an extra ten dollar a month at local, independent businesses, approximately 9.3 billion dollars would be directly returned to local economies. If we want to keep our local economies going, we need to by locally more often.

2) Fear of higher costs

3)
 * Consider increase in local employment
 * Relationships formed from buying from people you know
 * Lower transportation and environmental costs
 * You know what you are getting

4) Create more jobs - National chains often bring loss of employment. The opening of a Wal-Mart reduces retails employment in that county by an average of 150 jobs.

5) Generate more money for the community
 * For every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that much in a national chain, only $43 stays here.
 * Study in Austin, TX: $100 spent at local bookstore produced $45 worth of local economic activity, while $100 spent at Borders brought back only $13.
 * The New Economics Foundation, based in London, compared the results of people shopping at a supermarket vs. a local farmer's market or community agriculture (CSA) program. Twice the amount of money stayed in the community when people bought locally. Those purchases are twice as efficient in keeping the local economy alive.
 * Money needs to keep moving around to keep the economy going. When money is spent at big supermarkets or online retailers, it flows out "like a wound".

6) Resilience
 * Less reliance on foreign-made foods, whose costs may rise. We don't want to be stuck if we are unable to produce goods ourselves.
 * While a small community would still need to rely on other regions for certain products, there would be at least more flexibility due to diverse business.

7) Maintains uniqueness
 * street- neighborhood shops or typical chains

CONCLUSION
 * If the people of an average American city were to shift only 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the community's economy.


 * FIRST DRAFT:**

Buying Local

As local economies decline, people wonder why it is happening and how to fix it. If every family in the United States spent an extra ten dollars a month at local, independent businesses, approximately 9.3 billions dollars would be returned to local economies (Independent We Stand). It is a worthwhile endeavor to buy locally in order to build sustainable communities, link neighbors, promote diversity, ensure quality products and food, and keep the uniqueness of the community alive. Some people are turned off to this idea because they fear the potential for higher costs. While that can be true for some products, the benefits far outweigh the costs. And, really, the financial impact would affect everyone in a more positive way. While independent businesses create more jobs, national chains often bring loss of employment. The opening of a Wal-Mart reduces retail employment in that county by an average of 150 jobs. We should also consider the higher transportation and environmental costs that are associated with national chains and corporations. On a personal level, there are many more relationships formed by buying from people we know. This results in more honest business. We know //what// we are getting and //where// it is coming from when we purchase a product from someone we know. Local food, for example, tastes better and is better for you. It has genetic integrity, unlike the modified crops which have been compromised by biotechnology companies. Buying locally generates more money for the community. For every $100 spent in locally owned, independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If we spend that same amount in a national chain, only $43 stay in our community. A real life example of this is shown in a study that was done in Austin, Texas. The study showed that $100 spent at a local bookstore produced $45 worth of local economic activity, while $100 spent at Borders brought back only $13. It is clear that buying from independent businesses is much better for the community. The New Economics Foundation, based in London, compared the results of people shopping at a supermarket versus a local farmer’s market or community supported agriculture (CSA) program. The findings revealed that twice the amount of money stayed in the community when people shopped locally. Those purchases are twice as efficient in keeping the local economy alive. Money needs to continuously move around to keep the economy going. When money is spent at big supermarkets or online retailers, it flows out of the local economy like an open wound. Shopping at local, independent businesses also creates more resilience for the economy. There is less reliance on foreign-made goods which may increase in cost. We do not want to be stuck if we are unable to produce goods ourselves. Of course, small communities would still need to rely on other regions for certain products, but there would at least be more flexibility due to diverse businesses. While the economic reasons for buying locally are strong on their own, there is still the idea of maintaining uniqueness. When we walk down our streets, would we rather see unique neighborhood shops or typical chains? It may seem like we have to completely overhaul our spending habits in order to support the local economy, but it doesn’t have to be quite so overwhelming. If the people of an average American city were to shift only 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the local economy. A little change goes a long way. Here are some ideas for how to contribute to the local economy: Attend community events. Support your library. Shop at street fairs and farmer’s markets. Order produce from a CSA. Go to events that are put on by the senior center. Donate to local organizations. Buy bread from a bakery in town. Stop for a cup of coffee at an independent coffee shop. Use the local post office. Attend local fairs and festivals. Go to an independent restaurant instead of a chain. Give gift certificates to local businesses. Subscribe to local newspapers. With these facts in mind, if we want to keep our local economies going, we need to make a conscious decision to buy locally more often.