Don’t miss this! Come learn how South Berwick can build a strong local economy. If South Berwick is to thrive, we need citizens who are informed and involved.
Wednesday, October 22, 7 pm, Town Hall, Main Street, South Berwick
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 and build stronger communities.
Merchants and citizens in South Berwick have invited a nationally recognized expert in sustainable economies to talk to the community about the common cause of a vibrant local economy. Mitchell argues that the small guys can buck the big-box trend and rebuild their local independent businesses. Mitchell will outline innovative planning policies, small business initiatives, and other strategies communities can use to strengthen independent business and create a more prosperous and sustainable future.
Sponsored by Seacoast Buy Local, SmartGrowth South Berwick and Kennebunk Savings Bank
Admission is free. There will be a supervised kids craft room, free refreshments and numerous giveaways to local stores. (This just in: SmartGrowth South Berwick tells me there are 25 raffle prizes so there are great odds for winning something and the raffle is free.)
It was good to have her in order to get people to go and listen, but I don’t think she said anything that people won’t have known if they looked at her book. We all knew they need to develop ideas for new busniess development in town.
But it can be hard to find time to read a whole book, as gauche as that may sound. We can all get in ruts of apathy or cynicism that keep us from doing the right thing, so, while I agree active Planners should have all those thoughts fresh in their heads, the general public can really use the reminders that come with public speaches. Plus, I appreciated the comments that served as an update to her book, i.e., where things look to be heading in light of recent economic events.
Yesterday on WBUR’s OnPoint radio show I heard a very interesting interview. Go to this link to hear it, the segment is entitled Retail in the Coming Storm. It has some interesting views and predictions about Big Box and Mom and Pop retail.
http://www.onpointradio.org/shows/2008/10/retail-and-the-crisis/
Sue
Thanks for the link. Interesting show and it reaffirms Stacy Mitchell’s message that the trend is going back to mixed use downtown cores and away from fringe strip development. This really puts South Berwick in a good position. One of the speakers said that 70% of the US economy has been driven by consumer spending. That has put us in such a vulnerable position. I don’t know about you but I am buying nothing but absolute necessities these days. I would like to know more about how we can build an economy that isn’t so reliant on consumption.