Article
filed under
Banking, Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
May 5, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/soaring-credit-card-transaction-fees-squeeze-independent-businesses/
Independent businesses are largely at the mercy of Visa and MasterCard when it comes to the fees they must pay every time they swipe a credit card. These fees, which are ultimately passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices, have soared from $27 billion in 2004 to $48 billion last year (or $427 per household). Recognizing the tremendous market power held by card processors, many countries now regulate credit card transaction fees, setting them at rates as low as one-sixth of what U.S. businesses pay. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Justin Dahlheimer
|
| Updated on
May 5, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/little-saigon-defeats-mega-development/
Since 2005, residents and local business owners have been working to block this large retail development from spoiling their vibrant, walkable, urban neighborhood, which is home to many immigrant-owned small businesses. In late April, the developer backed out. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
|
| Updated on
Apr 28, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/new-tool-helps-lowincome-communities-evaluate-food-retailers/
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). Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Justin Dahlheimer
|
| Updated on
Apr 24, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/canadian-city-council-rejects-walmarts-bid-expand/
Sticking up for its downtown businesses, the Owen Sound City Council derailed Wal-Mart’s plans to expand a current store into a supercenter. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Apr 21, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/local-purchasing-preferences/2729-2/
San Jose grants local small businesses (those with 35 or fewer employees) a 5% price preference in the awarding of city contracts. For services provided through a request-for-proposal process, local small businesses receive a 10% point advantage. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Apr 21, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/local-purchasing-preferences/2727-2/
On purchases over $5,000, the city of Madison, Wisconsin, grants local businesses a 1% price preference on bids and a 5% point preference on RFPs (request for proposal). Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Apr 21, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/local-purchasing-preferences/2726-2/
On contracts of $100,000 or less, the city of Los Angeles grants a 10% preference to small, local businesses. A small, local business is defined as one that is independently owned and operated, located in the county of Los Angeles, and not "dominant in its field of operations." Los Angeles County also grants small, local businesses a 5% preference on county contracts. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Apr 20, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/local-purchasing-preferences/2724-2/
Indiana grants a 15% preference to small, independent businesses, as defined below, and gives all other local businesses a preference of 1-5%, depending on the size of the contract. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Mar 19, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/preventing-vacant-boxes/
A growing number of towns are inundated with chronically vacant big-box stores and shopping centers. Here’s how to prevent big-box blight in your community. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Justin Dahlheimer
|
| Updated on
Mar 18, 2009
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/residents-vote-down-walmart/
Thanks to a well-organized grassroots campaign, Plaistow, NH, residents voted down (80% opposed) a request by Wal-Mart to rezone residential property to make way for a supercenter. Continue reading
