Think Local First, County of Santa Cruz

TLF Celebrates Local Purchase Ordinance

admin — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:17:59 +0000

Local Businesses to Gain 6% beginning Wednesday, April 25

SANTA CRUZ, April 18, 2012 – Think Local First County of Santa Cruz, a nonprofit organization of nearly 600 member businesses formed to support and promote a vibrant local economy, is celebrating the City of Santa Cruz Local Business Preference Ordinance that goes into effect Wednesday, April 25.

The ordinance, which was developed by Assistant City Manager Tina Shull and Purchasing Manager Laura Nolan in consultation with Think Local First Board Members Peter Beckmann and Karl Heiman, provides locally-owned businesses with the following advantages when doing business with the City of Santa Cruz:

2% bidding advantage for “local” businesses

(a) The business shall have an office with at least one employee within the City of Santa Cruz.

(b) The business shall not be delinquent with any payments to the City.

additional 4% for “locally owned” businesses

(a)The business shall meet the requirements for a local business designation.

(b) At least fifty (50) percent of the business’ owners live in the County of Santa Cruz.

Although many jurisdictions throughout the US and in California have similar ordinances, the City of Santa Cruz ordinance is one with the strongest support for locally owned businesses. In other existing ordinances, there is rarely a difference between “local” and “locally owned.”

SC City Council Decides to Table Local Purchasing Preference

John — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:20:59 +0000

Listening to the requests of Think Local First and other concerned community members, the Santa Cruz City Council has tabled their proposed local purchasing preference because it was written to include national chains that have a Santa Cruz presence. Don Lane moved to table to ordinance and instead look at offering a 4% preference to locally-owned businesses and only a 2% preference to chains with a local presence. The council unanimously approved the motion.

Read the whole article here.

Think Local First, an advocate for locally-owned businesses, has long sought to educate the community about the difference between locally-owned vs. locally-operating.

Think Local Food First

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:08:39 +0000

UCSC student Tori Dillon makes a case for staying close to home, when it comes to food purchases. Watch and get inspired! Continue reading →

K-Fog Audio, Stacey Mitchell on the True Cost of National Retailers

Eric — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:37:21 +0000

Great radio interview with Stacey Mitchell - Economist on Community Economics. Continue reading →

Local Filmmaker Kyle Thiermann Takes on Plastics

admin — Sat, 14 May 2011 15:19:46 +0000

The producer of Claim Your Change, a film about banking locally, has made another excellent short film that tracks a plastic bag that he used in his hometown of Santa Cruz California, all the way to the north shore of Oahu, demonstrating both the destruction and solutions along the way. Famous musician Jack Johnson, and Story of Stuff’s Annie Leonard join him in this fast-paced journey to highlight the power we all have to end plastic pollution.

Check it out:

Locally-owned Business Moves Into Former Blockbuster Location

admin — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 04:23:38 +0000

Longtime local Rodney Hoffer is bringing back Santa Cruz Hardware.

The owner of Aptos Hardware and Westside Hardware, which both carry the Ace Hardware brand, Hoffer’s investing almost $500,000 to open an independent store. The location is 1214 Soquel Ave., in the heart of the Eastside business district.

Read the whole story…

A Catching and Effective Shop Local Video From the East Bay

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:32:15 +0000

Debra Whizin forwarded this video to us. It shows that a catchy and effective promo video doesn't need to be expensive. Continue reading →

Local Businesses Investing in Energy Efficient Cooling, Lighting

John — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:47:14 +0000

Great article from the Santa Cruz Sentinel about Shopper’s Corner’s investing in energy efficient lighting and cooling. Also mentions other local businesses now doing the same. Small footprint, big impact:

Read the article here.

San Francisco Implementing Local Hiring

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:12:07 +0000

San Fran set to implement tough local-hire law

By ROBIN HINDERY The Associated Press

Posted: 03/19/2011 07:30:37 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco is preparing to implement what is billed as the nation’s toughest local hiring ordinance, over the concerns of some neighboring communities and union officials.The law, which takes effect March 25, establishes strict requirements for how many work hours on city-funded projects must be completed by city residents, starting with 20 percent this year and rising incrementally to 50 percent. It also requires that a certain percentage of work hours be performed by economically disadvantaged residents.

The mandates apply to construction projects worth more than $400,000 within 70 miles of the city.

Supporters say the law will create jobs and promote equitable labor practices.

But critics say those benefits will come at the expense of jobs in nearby counties, where the majority of San Francisco’s construction workers live.

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_17652206

San Fran set to implement tough local-hire law

By ROBIN HINDERY The Associated Press

Posted: 03/19/2011 07:30:37 AM PDT

The mandates apply to construction projects worth more than $400,000 within 70 miles of the city.

Supporters say the law will create jobs and promote equitable labor practices.

But critics say those benefits will come at the expense of jobs in nearby counties, where the majority of San Francisco’s construction workers live.

Survey Finds “Buy Local” Message Benefiting Independent Businesses

John — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 05:16:53 +0000

From the New Rules Project, January 2011

For the fourth year in a row, our national survey of independent businesses has found that those in communities with an active “buy local” campaign run by an Independent Business Alliance or Local First group have experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to those located in areas without such an initiative.

The survey, which was conducted over an 8-day period in January, gathered data from 2,768 independent businesses. It found that those in places with a “buy local” campaign reported revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere.

Business owners active in these community initiatives also reported a wide range of benefits, including greater customer loyalty and more awareness of the needs of independent businesses among city officials.

Read the whole report…