Shopping center construction continues at a furious pace, even as chain retailers announce plans to close more than 6,500 outlets and vacancy rates soar. Continue reading
During the first week of July, over 40 local business alliances across the country celebrated Independents Week, an annual event that draws public attention to the importance of supporting locally owned, independent businesses. Continue reading
This commentary was originally published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. What Wal-Mart has saved poor and middle-income Americans —and there’s reason to doubt the depth and durability of those discounts — it has taken that and more from them in diminished job opportunities and reduced income. Continue reading
Originally published in the Times Union.
The Capital Region’s future would be much better served by fostering the growth of locally owned businesses, rather than chasing after big-name national retailers. Continue reading
Seacoast Local has grown into a broad movement of independent businesses, nonprofit organizations, and citizens working together to protect and strengthen New Hampshire’s local economy, civic fabric, and distinctive character. Continue reading
The grassroots group, New Scotlanders for Sound Economic Development (NS4SED), has convinced the town board in New Scotland, NY, to pass a moratorium on commercial projects, preventing, for now, a 750,000-square-foot retail development that would be the 4th largest mall in the region. Continue reading
Together, two grassroots groups have thwarted a development proposal that would have paved the way for a 128,000-square-foot Super Target in Simsbury, CT. Continue reading
Illinois enacted an HMO reform bill in 1999 that includes a provision barring health insurers from favoring certain types of pharmacies (e.g., mail order) over others (e.g., independent retail pharmacies). Continue reading
Included in the state budget passed this week by the New York legislature is a provision that requires online retailers, including Amazon.com, to collect state and local sales taxes. Continue reading
Mail order pharmacy companies are expanding rapidly and capturing an ever larger share of prescription drug sales. The growth in mail order has little to do with consumer preferences, but is driven instead by pharmacy benefit management companies, which manage prescription benefits for health insurers and often use economic incentives to coerce consumers into using a mail order pharmacy. State and federal policy initiatives aim to level the playing field. Continue reading
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