The Do-It-Yourselves Downtown

Date: 23 Feb 2015 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

There’s an emerging model that offers a glimpse of a new, better way for communities to generate economic development. It’s called a real estate investment cooperative, and the benefits include new jobs in the neighborhood, local sources for key goods, a return on investment, and more — plus the opportunity for communities to do it themselves.… Read More

Local Revival: Building a Decentralized Economy

Date: 14 Dec 2012 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Local farms, independent retailers, and community banks are all experiencing newfound public support. While these trends are encouraging, local businesses still account for only a small share of the economy. In this 15-minute talk, given in May 2012, ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell presents a compelling case for moving local enterprises from the economy’s margins to its mainstream.… Read More

Are Lightly Regulated States Really More Friendly to Small Businesses?

Date: 9 May 2012 | posted in: Retail | 2 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A new ranking of states based on “small business friendliness” gives low scores to those with more stringent environmental, labor, health & safety, and other regulations. The trouble with this analysis, however, is that many of the supposedly “unfriendly” states are actually home to much larger numbers of small businesses than the “friendly” states. … Read More

Why Small Banks Make More Small Business Loans

Date: 10 Feb 2010 | posted in: Banking, Retail | 5 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Although small and mid-sized banks control only 22 percent of all bank assets, they account for 54 percent of small business lending. Big banks, meanwhile, allocate relatively little of their resources to small businesses. The largest 20 banks, which now command 57 percent of all bank assets, devote only 18 percent of their commercial loan portfolios to small business. … Read More

New Tool Helps Low-Income Communities Evaluate Food Retailers

Date: 28 Apr 2009 | posted in: Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The newly published Sustainable Food Retail Framework aims to help cities struggling with a lack of grocery stores in low-income neighborhoods better balance the need to quickly fill the gaps (a mandate that often favors large supermarket chains) with the advantages of fostering development that delivers more long-term stability and greater economic, community, and environmental benefits (a framework that favors local business). … Read More

1 2