Wages, small businesses, etc.

[Peggy Adams <adams@pcei.org>]

"Small business owners might benefit from the expertise at the universities
and in the business community instead of each one of us having to re-invent
the wheel. "

Perhaps the wheel needs to be reinvented.  Methods and techniques used to
compete on a large scale as chain stores do don't often apply to small,
local businesses.  I'm not sure that advice given by management of a highly
capiltalized chain with monopsonistic purchasing power would apply or be
beneficial to a small business.   Additionally, although theoretical
expertise exists within the universities, real experience is rare in that
environment. It's solid experience that I think may benefit us here.  There
are plenty of classes, books, etc. available to give advice on running a
small business which I'm sure many of the businesses people around town
have investigated.  Small businesses have something unique to offer a
community, something that large chain stores don't.  Among those benefits
are commitment to the community, and a greater economic multiplier.  It's
up to us to value their contributions and make our purchasing decisions
based on our values.

Small and large scale businesses are not competing on a level playing field
and the rules are seldom fair.  I suggest that, if we really want to
preserve small businesses here in Moscow, we look into some of the things
that have worked elsewhere to level the playing field such as zoning and
tax incentives which benefit small businesses, an active, concerted
campaign to encourage local buying, incentives to locate and shop downtown,
local currency, and many others.

In an effort to minimize my hypocrisy I need to say that I am one of the
low wage working poor who shop at Walmart and Winco to make my dollar
stretch, but I also do what I can to support local businesses.

Peggy

Peggy Adams

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Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
Moscow ID 83843-1096
Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
url:  http://www.moscow.com/pcei

Please Note our individual staff email addresses below:

Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
Peggy Adams, Watersheds/Food Systems: adams@pcei.org
Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth:  smartgro@micron.net
Elaine Clegg, Idaho Smart Growth:  eclegg@micron.net
Anita Grover, Watersheds: grover@pcei.org
Laurie Guardes, Financial Manager:  gardes@pcei.org
Ashley Martens, Environmental Education:  martens@pcei.org
Lisabeth Edlund, Americorp/Youth at Risk edlund@pcei.org

Celebrating thirteen years of connecting people, place and community.
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