Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Being pro-local isn't an anti-growth stand
By Jack Wolcott
Gazette-Times columnist
The members of the Corvallis Independent Business Alliance have made a fundamental
decision, and we have based our well-being on it. We have chosen to tie our
prosperity to the economic health of our community. We are here for the "long
haul" and have repeatedly demonstrated our commitment to weather the
inevitable downturns of a local economy.
We do this by looking at the long-term view and not automatically grasping
at short-term "fixes" that may present themselves and appear to fill
the gaps that our customers are pointing out. It may take a bit longer, but
it is a foundation that we can all depend on to still be here when our children
may need it.
Our community began a healthy dialogue recently over two proposed "big
box" home improvement warehouse centers. The letters to the editor and
discussions at the Planning Commission hearings have raised some fundamental
questions and identified priorities for our common welfare. In general, they
were strongly in favor of local businesses and our quality of life. I see
Corvallis at a juncture that many other communities of our size have faced:
Do we just accept whoever wants to develop something on their terms, or do
we identify our needs and then look for the best fit for ourselves and a
qualified developer?
CIBA believes the latter choice is fundamentally a better option for Corvallis
, but it needs two other things to make it work: affordable housing and "traded
sector" businesses that pay living wages. A traded sector business is
one that brings revenue from outside our community into it. Footwise (with
its Internet business), most software firms and Peoria Gardens are all excellent
examples. Other such companies may or may not be locally owned, but they are
a sound foundation for a local economy, create high-paying jobs and provide
good customers for locally owned businesses.
This is much more desirable than focusing only on low-cost and convenient suppliers
without regard to the long-term effects on the local business community. Once
a small business closes, it is very difficult to convince another, similar
business to take the risk of competing against a large national retailer. Beyond
keeping our existing businesses and helping them satisfy their customers' interests,
we need to work with the other business organizations to encourage new entrepreneurs
and strengthen our current business mix.
A common practice among national retailers is to discount certain products
to give the appearance of a general, storewide discount. If 100 people buy
a $5 product for 10 percent less and then spend an additional $5 on other products
available from a local vendor at a similar price, they may save 75 cents each,
but the local vendor is deprived of more than $1,000 in sales. A future article
will discuss the deceptive and temporary nature of these loss leaders.
One of CIBA's primary missions is to educate the public on the values and significance
of locally owned, independently operated businesses. We hope that local residents
who do have a need to shop at national retailers will consider their purchases,
examine the price and buy only what they can't get from a local business.
CIBA is not opposed to responsible growth; we believe the local option should
be given a realistic first opportunity to fulfill the needs of our community.
Local owners know what their neighbors want, they are willing to work through
slow economic conditions and they are more committed to supporting community
needs. They deserve your support.
Jack Wolcott is a co-owner of Grass Roots Books & Music and sits
on the board of directors of the Corvallis Independent
Business Alliance . His column appears on the fourth Monday
of the month.
Copyright © 2004 Corvallis Gazette-Times
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