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SM CommomBound
Featured Article, Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by ILSR Admin | No Comments | Updated on Sep 7, 2016

Watch: Policy Tools That Enable Local Businesses to Thrive

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/watch-policy-tools-that-enable-local-businesses-to-thrive/

For too long, public policy has rigged the market to favor big corporations and undermine small, locally owned businesses, especially those launched by women and people of color. In this video of a panel session at the CommonBound conference, ILSR’s Stacy Mitchell and others discuss how, now, local businesses and activists across the country are working to change the rules to instead support community enterprises. Continue reading

compost corner
Featured Article, Resource filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Jun 17, 2016

Compost Combats Desertification: Download New Poster

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/desertification-and-compost/

June 17th is World Day to Combat Desertification. In 1994, the United Nations declared June 17th the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought to promote public awareness of the issue. While the UN focuses on those countries experiencing serious drought or desertification, particularly in Africa, the United States is not immune. “The dust storms… Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Rebecca Toews | No Comments | Updated on Jun 15, 2016

Ammon’s Model: The Virtual End of Cable Monopolies

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/video-ammons-model/

  The city of Ammon, Idaho, is building the Internet network of the future. Households and businesses can instantly change Internet service providers using a specially-designed innovative portal. This short 20 minute video highlights how the network is saving money, creating competition for broadband services, and creating powerful new public safety applications. We talk with… Continue reading

buy local sign - flickr Steve Garfield
Article filed under Energy, Energy Self-Reliant States | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 20, 2016

Why Going Local Makes Sense for the Clean Energy Transition

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/why-going-local-makes-sense-for-the-clean-energy-transition/

This is a response to a Forbes commentary published last week, by Steve Cicala In his commentary last week, Steve Cicala fell into a common trap for economists analyzing the electricity system. Touting what economics calls competitive advantage, Mr Cicala suggests we pursue the lowest price by taking cheap solar electricity from the Southwest, wind… Continue reading

compost corner
Featured Article, Resource filed under Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on May 6, 2016

Infographic: Compost Impacts More Than You Think

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/compost-impacts/

From healthy soils, to good local jobs, we bet you didn’t know that compost can have such an impact on your daily life! So think twice before you throw away your compostable food scraps… because one person’s trash is another’s black gold. Please help us spread the word! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL WEB-OPTIMIZED GRAPHIC… Continue reading

Amazon_warehouse
Featured Article, Resource filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Oct 22, 2015

5 Things Local Officials Need to Know About Amazon

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/5-things-local-officials-need-to-know-about-amazon/

Amazon is on a building spree, and many local officials are eager to bring one of its giant fulfillment centers to their own backyard. They are so eager, in fact, that some have resorted to offering the company lavish tax breaks and other public assistance. Between 2012 and 2014, Amazon picked up $431 million in local tax incentives to finance its warehouse expansion. Yet, as our analysis shows, Amazon fulfillment centers impose so many hidden costs on local economies that cities ought to reconsider welcoming them at all, much less greasing the way with public funds. Continue reading

Photo: Ribbon cutting at a Walmart expansion.
Featured Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Olivia LaVecchia | No Comments | Updated on Oct 21, 2015

States Shower Big Companies with Economic Development Incentives, at Small Businesses’ Expense

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/states-shower-big-companies-with-economic-development-incentives-at-small-businesses-expense/

Even when state economic development programs purport to be open to businesses of any size, in practice, they overwhelmingly favor large companies, according to a study released Tuesday. The study determined that 90 percent of a $3.2 billion pot of economic development incentives was awarded to large firms, a finding that casts light on one of the ways that small businesses are placed at a competitive disadvantage. Continue reading

roanoke daily herald logo square
Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Oct 1, 2015

Op-Ed: Community Broadband Networks Drive NC Economy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/op-ed-community-broadband-networks-drive-nc-economy/

The Roanoke Daily Herald published this op-ed about local government action for broadband networks on September 25, 2015. We were responding to an earlier Op-Ed, available here. Christopher Mitchell wrote the following op-ed. It is stunning any legislator can look at the constituents they serve in rural North Carolina and think, “‘These people don’t need… Continue reading

ILSRs Community Networks Economic Development Logo
Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Rebecca Toews | No Comments | Updated on Jul 16, 2015

Introducing… MuniNetworks Economic Development Page

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/introducing-our-economic-development-page-2/

Access to high-speed, broadband Internet facilitates economic development. Over the years, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance has documented economic successes brought about by community broadband networks. We chose some of the most compelling examples, organized them by topic, and put them in one place for easy reference. Check out our new economic development page. The benefits… Continue reading

public domain computer-screen w PUBLIC ROOFTOP REVOLUTION
Article, Resource filed under Energy, Energy Self-Reliant States | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jun 10, 2015

Public Rooftop Revolution in Pictures

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/public-rooftop-revolution-in-pictures/

There are a lot of stories on residential rooftop solar but few if any on what cities are doing to make themselves energy self-reliant by using their own buildings and lands to generate power. In Public Rooftop Revolution, ILSR estimates that mid-sized cities could install as much as 5,000 megawatts of solar—as much as one-quarter… Continue reading