More than almost any other factor, a community’s planning and land use laws and policies affect its success in supporting small, locally owned businesses.
Kennedy Smith made an appearance on the Oddly Specific podcast to share insights about the community harms dollar stores cause, and how to fight them.
Kennedy Smith shares her research and perspective about good zoning's role in economic resilience.
As dollar stores multiply rapidly across the U.S., cities are developing dollar store-specific policies to rein in their growth.
Looking to protest The Washington Post's decision to pull their Kamala Harris endorsement and considering cancelling Amazon Prime? This cheat sheet makes it easy.
Food deserts are a problem in Virginia, and are tied to the decline of independent grocers.
ILSR submitted a comment letter to the FTC and DOJ that describes private equity firms' tactics and how they hurt small businesses.
Family Dollar announced it plans to close 1,000 stores by the end of 2025. Communities have an opportunity to chart a different path.
An important but little-noticed court ruling in 2023 recognizes that towns and cities have broad authority to reject dollar store development.
Chicago City Council has voted to enact an ordinance that will limit development of new chain dollar stores, the largest city yet to do so.
“Eliminating food deserts requires many solutions. But there is one absolutely essential action: preventing dollar stores from proliferating,” Tulsa City Council Member Vanessa Hall-Harper and...
From mobile markets to refrigerated food pick-up lockers, communities are exploring new approaches to making sure their residents have convenient, affordable access to healthy food.
On The Hustle, Kennedy Smith spells out why dollar stores are so problematic for our pocketbooks and our communities.
In Nonprofit Quarterly, ILSR Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith describes the federal Equitable Lending Leaders program and some of its biggest lessons.… Read More
Communities are adopting innovative strategies to sustain their grocery stores or create new ones amidst the challenges posed by grocery sector consolidation.