Stacy Mitchell, national expert in strong local economies and author of “Big Box Swindle” is coming to South Berwick to talk about how towns can expand their economies in a way that is good for the community.
Sponsored by Seacoast Buy Local, SmartGrowth South Berwick and Kennebunk Savings Bank
7 pm October 22, Town Hall, Main Street, South Berwick
There will be a supervised kids craft room, free refreshments and numerous giveaways to local stores.
Merchants and citizens in South Berwick, who do not take their downtown for granted with its independent pharmacy, toy store, grocery store, book store and florist, have invited a nationally recognized expert in sustainable economies to talk to the community about the common cause of a vibrant local economy.
“Big-Box Swindle”, named one of the top ten business books of the year by the American Library Association’s Booklist, contends big-box store companies have contributed to everything from the shrinking middle class to soaring gasoline consumption and declining community involvement.
Mitchell argues, though, that the small guys can fight back. A growing number of communities are bucking the big-box trend and rebuilding their local businesses. In her talk, Mitchell will outline several innovative planning policies, small business initiatives, and other strategies communities can use to strengthen independent business and create a more prosperous and sustainable future.
“This region is at a crossroads,” noted Mitchell. “Fortunately, there’s still time to ensure that South Berwick doesn’t end up like so many other small towns across of the country, where nearby big-box stores rob village downtowns of their economic vigor as well as the sense of community provided by locally owned businesses.”
A citizens’ group called SmartGrowth South Berwick and local retailers joined forces with Seacoast Buy Local, a Portsmouth-based coalition of hundreds of local business owners and residents, to sponsor Mitchell’s talk.
SmartGrowth South Berwick, a volunteer citizens group, works to encourage retail, social and civic activity in the downtown. It sponsors the annual Home for the Holidays event and has worked for zoning that will not adversely affect local retailers.
“When we read Big-Box Swindle, we knew that Mitchell’s expertise could help our community as we work to keep a strong downtown with its distinct historic and small town character,” said Puff Uhlman of Vine Street, a member of SGSB.
“One of the challenges for local retailers is we are so busy running our businesses and taking care of our families it is hard to find time to get involved in local policy,” said Jen Houghton, owner of the Little Hat Company.
Mitchell is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a national nonprofit organization that works to build strong local economies and sustainable communities. She has served as advisor on retail development issues to numerous cities across the country and is a frequent speaker at conferences and forums.
Organizers are giving away dozens of gift certificates to local businesses as door prizes, including a $100 gift certificate to Little Hat Company. Parents are invited to bring children to the craft room and face-painting room, which will be chaperoned.
[...] Learn more about the power of local independent businesses on October 22 when Stacy Mitchell, national expert in strong local economies, comes to South Berwick to talk about how towns can expand their economies in a way that is good for the community. Find out more… [...]
I hope it is not just going to be a bash big box stores and thats it. I hope she is going to have a solid plan for are town and not just generalitys that will not improve are downtown. I just don’t see myself not going to hanafords in dover and paying less for a better selection of foods and less in taxes over going to the local store here in town. I will be interested to here what she has to say I just hope it is not the same old big store bad, but I have no idea what your town is going to do about them.
This could be a very good meeting if people come and show an interest. Instead of sitting back and complaining. You have to tell them what you want and build from there.
Howard–I’m looking forward to hearing what other towns have done that have been successful at increasing economic vitality. I hope over the next few months we can hear all kinds of ideas about community and economic development so that we can figure out what we want as a community and then figure out how to make it happen.