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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Feb 1, 2003

Taos, New Mexico, Battles Big Boxes… Again

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/taos-new-mexico-battles-big-boxes-again/

Hundreds of citizens packed a Town Council meeting in Taos, New Mexico, in late January to voice their opposition to a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter.

With the meeting room filled to capacity, many were forced to sit out the proceedings in other rooms, hallways, and even outside the building. More than 70 people testified against the development over a three-and-a-half hour period. Opponents wore green ribbons to identify themselves and presented a petition with 6,800 signatures.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 17, 2002

Local Retailers Can’t Grow in the Shadows of Supercenters

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/16994/

Local Retailers Can’t Grow in the Shadows of Supercenters By Stacy Mitchell Originally Published in the Duluth News Tribune, November 17, 2002 Big box retailers are rapidly rolling out stores throughout Minnesota. Wal-Mart and Target are leading the pack with plans to build hundreds of new “supercenters” nationwide. These giant 200,000-square-foot stores are twice the… Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Surveys Find Local Pharmacies Cheaper than Chains

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/surveys-find-local-pharmacies-cheaper-chains/

In October, the Maine Department of Human Services released its third annual survey of prescription prices for fifteen common drugs at 106 independent and chain pharmacies statewide. The ten lowest priced pharmacies (based on the cost of all fifteen drugs combined) were all locally owned drugstores. National chains, including Rite Aid, CVS, and Brooks, had among the highest overall costs. Continue reading

Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

PUERTO RICO CHALLENGES WAL-MART ACQUISITION

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/puerto-rico-challenges-walmart-acquisition/

A broad coalition has coalesced in Puerto Rico to block an attempt by Wal-Mart to buy Supermercados Amigo, the island’s largest supermarket chain. The deal would give the retailer, which already has $1.16 billion in sales at 19 Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores, a 40 percent share of Puerto Rico’s grocery sales.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

YAYA! BIKE CO-OP CHARTS RAPID GROWTH

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/yaya-bike-coop-charts-rapid-growth/

The number of businesses belonging to purchasing cooperatives has doubled in the last ten years, to about 50,000, according to Paul Hazen of the National Cooperative Business Association. In the hardware and grocery sectors, long-established co-ops like Ace Hardware, have provided an essential line of defense against large chains and made the difference between survival and failure for countless independent merchants. The co-op model is now spreading to other retail sectors.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

BIG BOX OPPONENTS WIN TWO, LOSE TWO ON ELECTION DAY

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/big-box-opponents-win-two-lose-two-election-day/

EASTON, MARYLAND — Home Depot suffered a resounding defeat at the ballot box in Talbot County, Maryland, on Tuesday in what residents hope will be the company’s final attempt to build one of its giant stores in this rural Eastern Shore community.

In 1999, after Home Depot and other big box retailers proposed stores in the town of Easton, the City Council enacted a big box moratorium and subsequently adopted an ordinance barring stores over 65,000 square feet.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Tackling the Problem of Commercial Gentrification

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/tackling-problem-commercial-gentrification/

Rising commercial rents are generally a good thing; they are an indication of the health of a business district and encourage landlords and banks to invest in building improvements.

But in some communities, commercial rents are rising too far too fast. Often this sudden run-up is driven by chain retailers, which discover the appeal of an area and sweep in by the dozens, offering above-market rents for choice spots and sparking a frenzy of speculation.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

NORFOLK NEIGHBORS ORGANIZE TO STOP WALGREEN’S

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/norfolk-neighbors-organize-stop-walgreens/

In less than a week, residents of Norfolk, Virginia, have gathered nearly 400 petition signatures against a proposed Walgreen’s store. The chain plans to bulldoze a marble and tile building in the historic Ghent neighborhood and build a 14,500-square-foot store with a double drive-through and large parking lot.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

Critical Small Business Loan Program Cut

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/critical-small-business-loan-program-cut/

The Bush Administration has cut the federal government’s largest and most important small business loan program by more than 60 percent. This year, the program will back only $4.4 billion in loans, compared to nearly $12 billion last year.

The program, known as 7(a), is run by the Small Business Administration and guarantees loans of up to $2 million made to small businesses. It is the largest source of long-term working capital for small businesses in the nation, accounting for some 40 percent of available financing.

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Article filed under Independent Business | Written by admin | No Comments | Updated on Nov 1, 2002

WAL-MART’S BID TO BUY BANK BLOCKED

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmarts-bid-buy-bank-blocked/

A coalition of consumer groups, unions, independent banks, credit unions, and realtors managed a legislative feat in California last month when they pushed through an 11th hour bill to block Wal-Mart’s attempt to acquire a small bank.

Wal-Mart filed an application with state regulators in April to buy Franklin Bank of California, an industrial bank with $2.5 million in assets and three employees in Orange County. The new law prohibits non-financial firms from buying state-chartered banks.

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