On The Hustle, Kennedy Smith Explains the Bad Economics of Dollar Stores
Kennedy Smith was on The Hustle to spell out why dollar stores are so problematic for our pocketbooks and our communities.… Read More
On Wisconsin Public Radio, Kennedy Smith Explains the Cost of Dominant Food Delivery Apps and What Cities Can Do
Kennedy Smith joined The Morning Show on Wisconsin Public Radio to talk about how the largest, Wall-Street-fueled delivery apps are using their market power to extract ever-increasing profits from restaurants.… Read More
Webinar: Small Business’s Big Moment
On February 10th, 2022, ILSR and Main Street America hosted a conversation about how communities can use some of their federal American Rescue Plan Act allocations to support small business growth and development. The webinar was based on a new report by ILSR that outlines a dozen ideas for using American Rescue Plan Act money to cultivate and support small businesses. … Read More
Watch: New Wave of Federal Recovery Funds Can Rebuild Main Street
At the Future Cities conference, ILSR Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith moderated a panel discussion about how cities can leverage federal recovery funds to revitalize their commercial districts, create more small businesses, and reduce racial and economic inequality.… Read More
Now is the Moment to Advocate for Small Business: A Kauffman Conversation
Stacy Mitchell joined an online discussion with Jason Wiens, policy director for the Kauffman Foundation, and Brandy Bynum Dawson, director of Advocacy for the NC Rural Center about the critical role policy plays for small businesses – especially given the confluence of factors in 2020.… Read More
Video: Stacy Mitchell talks Amazon, Concentration, and Building Resilient Local Economies
ILSR co-director Stacy Mitchell was the guest for a special edition of Strong Towns’ webcast earlier this year. Stacy spoke with Strong Towns co-founder and President, Chuck Marohn on topics like Amazon, tax incentives, retail concentration, and big-box stores.… Read More
Watch San Francisco’s AnMarie Rodgers on How the City’s Formula Business Policy Works
In this 30-minute talk, AnMarie Rodgers, Senior Policy Advisor in the City of San Francisco Planning Department, breaks down the nuts-and-bolts of San Francisco’s pioneering formula business ordinance. She talks about how the city implemented the policy, how it works and how well it works — and what advice she has for other cities that want to do it too.… Read More
Watch ILSR’s Olivia LaVecchia on Strategies for Cities to Support Locally Owned Businesses
In this 20-minute talk, ILSR’s Olivia LaVecchia breaks down strategies that cities can use to support their local economy.… Read More
ILSR Moderates Workshop at the National League of Cities Conference on “Creating a City Where Small Businesses Thrive”
A thriving small business sector leads to more job growth, less inequality, higher median incomes, and stronger social bonds in your community. Yet aspiring entrepreneurs don’t have it easy. To help city leaders address the challenges facing independent businesses, ILSR organized and moderated a workshop at the City Summit 2017 conference put on by the National League of Cities in November.… Read More