Compelling Reasons to Buy Local

Spokane? Kelowna? Calgary?

Think Local This Holiday Season

By Mike Stolte - originally published in the Nelson Daily News Nov. 27, 2009

Spokane. Kelowna. Even Calgary. My heart races as I think of the bright lights, swarming holiday crowds and possible great deals. Yes, it’s tempting to think of a road - read ‘shopping’ - trip to these exotic locales but this year it makes more sense than ever to ‘think local’. The economic downturn is taking its toll on local retailers, service providers (which our area has an abundance of), and other businesses. These businesses sponsor Nelson Minor Soccer, give to the CT Scanner, and donate to countless community causes.

Thinking and buying local has never been hotter. When the Economist magazine recently suggested that the world needs to revisit buying local (and local/regional self-reliance) – a break from their normal trumpeting of globalization and bigger is better– people took notice. It’s now not just a fringe movement.

Not surprisingly, Nelson is on the cutting edge of think and buy local movements:

§ A well-crafted Shop-Local campaign (shop-nelson.com) spearheaded by the Nelson Business Association, and supported by many local businesses, the NDCU and the Chamber of Commerce is more than likely catching your attention. It focuses on local business owners citing why they’re shopping local. The photos are awesome. The campaign looks pretty high end.

§ The Nelson and District Credit Union is promoting its 100 Mile Mortgage (the NDCU’s whirling dervish Bradley Roulston has made numerous presentations and radio appearances to extol the virtues of buying local). As Bradley likes to ask, “Would you rather pay your kid $10 to mow your lawn or bring in someone from 150 miles away to save $0.50?” The argument has logic.

§ Local web development company Yellowseed recently launched GYOS.ca (Get/Grow/Give Your Own Stuff), a web-site designed to allow for the local swapping, trading and buying of goods and services, with a cool component focusing on locally grown food (the Five Mile Diet). What better way to get rid of those excess plums! GYOS has spread all over the Kootenays and to the Sunshine Coast.

§ Our local food movement has caught the attention of people around North America thanks to the tireless work of many including Abra Brynne, Matt Lowe, and Jon Steinman. Steinman has become a food celebrity thanks to his informative syndicated radio show on KCR, Deconstructing Dinner. The Nelson/Creston grain CSA (community supported agriculture - www.kootenaygraincsa.ca) has even caught the attention of Parliament.

§ Even my own organization, CIEL, got into the act earlier this year, hosting the 100 Mile Ideas Diet, a speaker series over five months at Oso Negro that featured local experts and community conversations on important issues of community vitality (housing, arts and culture, business vitality, innovation, localization).

Mike Shuman, author of the Small-Mart Revolution (small-mart.org) believes that thinking local is the only sure way to keep our main streets vital. He cites four major reasons for buying locally:

1. Locally owned businesses stay in the community. Their owners are rooted. They’re here in good times and stick it out through the bad. Many US communities have been burned when large businesses – many that have received incentives and/or tax breaks - pull up stakes and leave.
2. Local businesses have a higher economic impact, known as an economic multiplier. One study that Shuman cites from Austin Texas, showed that $100 spent at a Borders bookstore returned only $13 to the local economy. That same $100 spent at a local bookstore put $45 back into the local economy (in wages, donations, local purchases, etc.). In other studies money spent in locally-owned business consistently has double to triple the impact as non-local. In his book, Shuman provides many compelling examples, deconstructing myths and long-held beliefs about big corporation recruitment. Many big non-local corporations receive subsidies, while actually being net drains on local taxes. In a place like Nelson, with a higher number of services (acupuncture, massage, etc.), that $100 spent at a local business returns a full $100 to the local economy (less a bit of tax) that keeps ricocheting from business to business.
3. Local businesses have a size and character that is much more consistent with what makes communities flourish. People want to live in vibrant, walkable communities where people know their name (‘Cheers’ where, hopefully, people won’t lock the doors when you want to get out).
4. Local businesses have a smaller carbon footprint than non-local.

While a trip to Spokane is most likely in the cards sometime this holiday season, I’m committing to spend at least 10% more of my Christmas money in local businesses.

Mike Stolte is the Executive Director of the Nelson-based Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL - www.theCIEL.com).

Brace Yourselves - Unless we Learn from Others, the Long, Bumpy Ride for Rural Communities Has Just Begun

By Mike Stolte (originally published in the Nelson Daily News - October 23, 2009)

“The best chance of survival for the human race is self-reliant local development.”

John Bryden, President, International Rural Network at the 2009 OECD Rural Development Conference

Russia has placed top priority on saving its 400 single industry (rural) towns. Finland plans to make ultra-fast (100 MB/s – many times faster than current speeds) broadband available for each and every resident by 2015, an expensive proposition at the rural level but one the government is committed to undertaking. Quebec has set up 33 laboratories in rural communities so that they can become innovative and productive, a key to provincial prosperity. Scotland has reformed its land system so that communities can harvest local resources (community energy and forest corporations, etc.), ensuring rural communities remain viable. In rural Kenya cell phones are creating a productivity revolution and boast usage rates higher than rural areas in many Western countries.

These are some of the things I learned as one of two BC delegates (the other being Selkirk College’s George Penfold) at the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) Rural Development Conference last week in Quebec City. I felt a little bit like a kid in a candy shop, talking about things like climate change, new forest uses and effective rural policy with interesting, passionate people from all over the world.

While good innovative stuff is happening, the mood was decidedly sober. The odds are tilting against small communities now more than ever. Foreign debt clouds the future. The World Bank reported that the economic crisis has inordinately affected rural in emerging Eastern European countries. They have little internal capacity (sound governance practices or structures, training, education). It’s the same story in Africa reported the UN, where cash-strapped Western countries are abandoning rather inexpensive training commitments that these countries desperately need.

In the US, huge deficits at both federal and state levels, means the taps might get turned off. This is bad news for small and rural everywhere, who typically don’t have the expertise, resources or capacity to deal with big changes - uneven income flows or the technical expertise to deal with climate change, which most experts believe will inordinately affect rural (the fishers, farmers and foresters of the world).

Recessions traditionally affect rural first and most severely. Up until now, central governments have supported them through the tough times with equalization payments and other types of support (EI, retraining if workers, etc.). Despite compelling evidence that this works (in the short term at least), the current ‘market will take care of things’ obsession combined with burgeoning government debts means rural might be in trouble.

And let’s face it. ‘Rural’ is not particularly sexy for politicians. It’s often equated with farming (despite a minority of rural Canadian communities being agricultural), often marginalizing rural issues in slow-moving agricultural departments. Most policy makers rarely set foot outside the big cities. Immigrants virtually all end up in the big cities. And, if you listen to reports in the news, rural is dead if not dying (although Canada’s rural population has remained pretty much stable since 1940).

The reality is that study after study recognizes that rural and small town Canada is important. Providing equal access to services for rural Canadians is fair and the right thing to do. The very notion of being Canadian, our collective values, our heritage and culture were born in rural Canada (e.g. Dog River, Saskatchewan of Corner Gas fame). Japan recognizes the cultural importance of its rural origins and now educates its urban citizens on the rural urban linkages. Almost all the major issues of our times – food, water, environmental security, climate change, water – have a significant rural dimension.

Progressive jurisdictions like Quebec have recognized the critical interdependence of rural and urban Canada and see the investment in rural as an investment in their ‘national’ economy (rural GDP growth is outpacing urban). They’ve created flexible regional governance arrangements allowing creative solutions to unique issues within regions. Quebec has also provided funding to support community or region-led initiatives, a key to the success of small communities (a theme we heard from presenter after presenter).

While much was learned in the dozens of presentations and interactions, it was a presenter from the tiny island of Bornholm, Denmark, population 43,000, who was most compelling. Sitting far from home in the heavily polluted Baltic Sea (it’s far closer to Sweden than to Denmark), Bornholm’s fortunes have historically risen and fallen with its fishery. With high unemployment rates and low education levels, Bornholm is betting its future on the only long-term strategy that seems to be working in the small towns and remote villages of the world. They’re investing in education, innovation (in people and governance structures), new technologies and in creating an entrepreneurial culture. “What’s a small island to do?” asks Peter Billing, the architect of Bornholm’s Bright Green Island regional development strategy. “It has to co-operate with its neighbours and it has to build a spirit of co-operation within it.”

While local response and capacity is essential, the role of central governments (federal and provincial) in moving this forward through policy, technical expertise, facilitation and money is also critical, concluded Chuck Fluharty, Director of the highly respected U.S.-based Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI). Fortunately in the US, the Obama administration has committed to making this happen. Sadly however, here in BC and the rest of Canada (with the exception of Quebec), we are still stuck in a rural wilderness.

A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.

Aart de Geus – Deputy Secretary of the OECD

Mike Stolte is the Past President the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and the Executive Director of the Nelson-based Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL).

“Beyond Economic Survival – 97 Ways Small Communities Can Thrive – A Guide to Community Vitality” Released

More Needed to Survive in a Post-Recession Economy - Economist

ALSO ATTACHED – MINI COMMUNITY VITALITY INDEX – How Does Your Community Rate?

Nelson, BC - Does your community believe in itself? Do women consider it safe to walk alone downtown at night? Do young adults 25-34 consider your community a desirable place to live?

“If you’re not asking yourself these things you are not likely to have a viable community in the long run” says economist Mike Stolte, co-author of a just-published free guide to community vitality.

“Beyond Economic Survival – 97 Ways Small Communities Can Thrive – A Guide to Community Vitality” was released on the web this week by the Centre for Innovative & Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL – pronounced ‘see – elle’ meaning sky in French – www.theCIEL.com), a Nelson, BC-based organization that has worked with communities in Canada, the US, Australia & New Zealand.

The guide comes about after four years of development. “We looked at more than 60 studies from around the world, had a blue ribbon national advisory committee, and have now worked closely with 50 communities in four countries to produce this guide,” says Bill Metcalfe, the report’s other co-author.

Stolte, CIEL’s Executive Director, says that most of the 97 indicators rely on perceptions - things like newcomers being welcome in the community or the community having a festival that generates a feeling of magic and excitement. “These important perceptions are often ignored in communities because they are hard to measure,” states Stolte.

The CIEL team devised a method of measuring the perceptions on a 100 point scale allowing for an important comparison to other communities (a reference group) in developing the Community Vitality Initiative (CVI) for small communities in Quebec. “Like humans, communities need to know where they stand relative to others on important matters. We might think we’re doing poorly but compared to others, we’re not doing so badly.”

CIEL has combined the CVI indicators with statistics to take the temperature (the general health of the community) in communities across Canada, including Huntsville, Ontario (site of next year’s G8 Summit) to give the communities a starting point for getting the community focused and kick-started for taking strategic action, something Stolte argues is more important than ever in an economic downturn.

“Armed with information and freed by technology, people choose their communities much more carefully than ever before. Therefore, communities must be savvy in the retention and attraction of people. In fact, if communities don’t inspire their citizens they run the risk of becoming failed communities.”

The free Guide to Community Vitality offers communities a checklist of 97 important indicators, explains why they’re important and cites the indicator research origins. The guide is available for download at www.theCIEL.com

The Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership (CIEL – www.theCIEL.com) strengthens communities by helping them become more entrepreneurial, vital and sustainable. In addition to developing a community leadership program for small communities for the Government of Canada, CIEL also has worked with communities using the Business Vitality Initiative (business friendliness), the Community Vitality Initiative (vitality), Community Check-up, the Communities Matrix (readiness), and the Green Light Check-Up (sustainability), all tools and processes to assess and strengthen communities. CIEL also provides technical assistance, training and custom solutions for communities.

Mini-Bio of Co-Authors

• Mike Stolte, in addition to being the founder and Executive Director of CIEL, is also the Chair of the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation (CRRF) and writes as the Happy Economist (http://happy-economist.blogspot.com/). Mike’s work has been featured on CBC Radio, Canadian Living and the Australian Broadcasting Company.

• Bill Metcalfe is Bill Metcalfe is a writer and researcher for CIEL. In addition, he works as a broadcaster and freelance writer. Bill co-manages Kootenay Co-op Radio in Nelson, BC. He also produces occasional pieces for CBC radio about the arts in Nelson, and writes freelance articles. He is a published fiction writer.

For more information contact:

• Mike Stolte 250-352-9192 x 222 w, 250-354-3737 Cell
• Bill Metcalfe 250-352-9192 x 224 w

How Does Your Community Rate?

Take the MINI COMMUNITY VITALITY INDEX

To see how your community rates, ask yourself these questions:

• you can strongly agree (score 4), mildly agree (3), neither agree nor disagree (2), mildly disagree (1), or strongly disagree (score 0) – add your score to see how you’re doing

A score of 60 or better – you’ve got a super community

A score of 51-60 – you’ve got some vitality and have much potential

A score of 41-50 – lots of work needed

A score 40 or below – you’re in jeopardy of losing chunks of your population.

1. Local middle-income earners can afford to buy a house in the community.
2. Women consider it safe to walk alone downtown at night.
3. For newcomers to the community and those who wish to, there are meaningful opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the community.
4. This town believes in itself. We think that with enough support, we can do anything.
5. This community cooperates with its neighbouring communities.
6. There is a good balance between new ideas and a respect for tradition and history.
7. On divisive community issues, there is civilized debate, a good flow of information, and inclusive, respectful consultation.
8. The community considers environmental sustainability in its community planning.
9. We celebrate the arts and support local artists.
10. We have at least one public festival that generates a feeling of magic and excitement.
11. We have identified something positive that is unique to this community, and we promote it well.
12. Most people know the individuals in at least three neighbouring households by name.
13. Newcomers are welcome in the community.
14. Young adults age 25-34 consider the community to be a desirable place to live.
15. This community has an optimistic spirit.
16. Businesses in the community/region market their products and services as a group.
17. The community has a distinctive or unique brand or marketing image.
18. People prefer to purchase local products & services before those from out of the area.
19. There are friendly public spaces where a variety of kinds of people feel welcome: parks, squares, fountains, outdoor cafes, benches, playgrounds.
20. There is a vibrant town centre or community core.

If you want more, please go to CIEL’s web-site (www.theCIEL.com) to download the full guide with all 97 indicators.

The Incredible Case of Plessisville, PQ - Nurture the Youth and...

The higest rate of Millinneum Scholarships in Canada, no youth vandalism, 90% youth voter turnout - Read about a Quebec community that listened & empowered their youth

From The Nova Scotian

By Silver Donald Cameron

DARRELL DEXTER wants to keep young people here by creating a province where they can make a living, and where they will also want to live. Me, too. So I’d like to take him to Plessisville, Que.

Plessisville, pop. 9,000, is the home of La Samare, the remarkable little rural high school that has won more Millennium Excellence scholarships than any other public high school in Canada. It’s surrounded by smaller communities which provide about half the students of La Samare. And those small communities have given rise to a remarkable organization designed to "foster independence, initiative and a sense of responsibility among young people of 12-18 years."

Read the rest of the article in The Nova Scotian

Using Technology for Grassroots Movements - Final Event Draws Almost 50

The final CIEL 100 Mile Diet Speaker Series event was held at Oso Negro in Nelson, BC last night.

Four panelists - Michelle Laurie. Tom Clegg. Bill Metcalfe & Delyse Sylvester - stimulated rich conversation on Technology & Social Movements.

The crowd of 50 broke into groups of 5 using an Open Space format to discuss the questions:

• Are on-line technologies increasing or decreasing hierarchies in society?
• How can we improve the pace at which social groups and movements embrace social technologies?

Please check the CIEL web-site in the coming months for podcasts of the presentations and the discussion from this and the other four events.

Recommended: Don Tapscott's TV Ontario podcast on Growing Up Digital: How the Net is Changing Everything. Tapscott argues that young people today are in a more powerful position than ever before because of their tech savviness. The older generation would be wise to set up reverse mentoring netowrks and embrace the expertise of the younger set's technological fluency.

Community Success Stories- we want to hear them!

In order to inspire communities to move forward and have fun with it, we often describe actions that other communities have taken. We want to expand our knowledge base of success stories, and you can help us! If you have an inspiring story of innovative, entrepreneurial steps your community has taken, please send them to: info@theciel.com

Media Frenzy at CIEL

Now we know how Brad & Angelina feel. Several aspiring radio personalties from Kootenay Co-op Summer Youth Radio Camp stopped by CIEL`s Nelson, BC office to ask Mike Stolte a few questions today.

`What do you do?` had to do be the toughest question Mike said later. `Try explaining helping communities or getting communities going (from constipated) to some curious, young minds.`

Mike was also asked some other toughies:

• What`s your favourite food? chocolate (no surprise here)
• What`s your favourite animal? dogs
• What`s your favourite colour? blue - no green - no purple (Mike couldn`t decide)
• Where are you going this summer? Ontario & Alberta
• What else are you doing this summer? biking, mountain biking, kayaking, making 2 films with my kids for the film festival

CIEL`s Anna Planedin, former radio camp co-ordinator, reported the kids were impressed with Mike`s answers (whew!).