Article
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Independent Business
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admin
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| Updated on
Feb 1, 2003
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/historic-georgia-community-fights-walmart/
Two churches and a long-time resident of the historic Sandfly community near Savannah, Georgia, have sued city and county officials to block a proposed Wal-Mart supercenter. The lawsuit claims the officials violated planning and zoning laws in approving the development.
Settled by slaves in the 1700s, Sandfly is one of the nation’s oldest African-American communities. Until recently, most homes is this tight-knit village were built by residents themselves with everyone in the community pitching in to help.
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Rule
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| Updated on
Dec 9, 2002
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/tax-base-sharing/2302-2/
Sponsored by Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento, AB 680 would establish a system for sharing sales tax revenue among the 18 municipalities in the Sacramento metropolitan region. Because of limitations on how much revenue cities can raise through property taxes, California cities are especially dependent on sales taxes. Continue reading
Rule
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Independent Business
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admin
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| Updated on
Dec 9, 2002
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/tax-base-sharing/2301-2/
Regional tax-base sharing was implemented in the seven-county Twin Cities metro in 1971. Each community contributes 40 percent of the growth of its commercial and industrial property tax base after 1971 to a regional pool. Continue reading
Rule
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Independent Business
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admin
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Dec 2, 2002
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/internet-sales-tax-fairness/post-2241/
Unlike the United States, the European Union never considered making the internet a tax-free zone. To exempt internet sales from taxation, in the European view, would be to violate the principle of neutrality, as described in an OECD report on the "framework conditions" for electronic commerce. Continue reading
Article
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Independent Business
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Stacy Mitchell
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| Updated on
Nov 17, 2002
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
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Nov 1, 2002
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
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Nov 1, 2002
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
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Independent Business
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Nov 1, 2002
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
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Independent Business
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admin
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| Updated on
Nov 1, 2002
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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Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
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| Updated on
Nov 1, 2002
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/mexican-communities-fight-costco-and-mcdonalds/
Residents of Oaxaca, a city in southern Mexico, are handing out free tamales by the thousands in an effort to stop a McDonald’s from opening in a 500-year-old plaza at the center of town. News of the company’s plans surfaced in May. Since then, opponents have been holding rallies with free food to highlight the importance of local cuisine and build opposition to the McDonald’s.
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