Support for a Downtown BID

Understandably there is a lot of skepticism around the proposed downtown Business Improvement District.  Many are concerned about how raising property taxes would affect the downtown, potentially increasing the cost of living and doing business as an independent small business owner.  Some share our fears, knowing the absence of ordinances preventing major chains or corporations from moving into downtown, we fear that creating such a tax district will drastically change the downtown we invested our lives in and love.  At the very least, there are concerns that the BID will sterilize our organic and lively culture and have the authority to privatize public space.  However, we have worked on both the BID management committee and interim board in order to understand the implications of this proposal.  Please read on if you’re concerned and want to know more:

In a climate where downtown Asheville is experiencing significant growth both as a tourist destination and an influx of people choosing to live here, we have to be prepared to manage this growth.  The city provides downtown with a baseline of services, but there remain challenges and issues that the city cannot or will not solve for us.  Much of a BID’s power comes from its ability to carry out projects over an extended period of time being somewhat insulated from the changing whims of politics.  The proposal would bind city government to maintain its current level of total spending on downtown.  Through extensive research the committee resolved that assessment dedicated to a BID can offer a potential solution to help the city help us.

A BID is a rare instance of a self-directed tax in a private/public partnership where we have the power to solve our problems with our own money.  Residents will have places on the board and are encouraged to participate and voice their opinions on where the monies are directed.  With the arrival of more tourists and people using this town and often abusing it and leaving (without participating in our community) we do need to manage our town for ourselves and keep it safe (or make it safer) for people who work and live here.  Since the late 1990′s there has been no unified management of downtown.  While there have been many individuals willing to donate their time and skills towards the betterment of our downtown, there is a way we can harness this energy without relying solely on a few dedicated citizens.  We believe a BID has the opportunity to bring creativity and entrepreneurial skills to enhance the public services and solve complex municipal problems more effectively and efficiently.

Key points about a BID:

• It will create a critical dialog among property owners, businesses and residents that leverages as much as $800,000 to the strategic benefit of all downtown.  It allows the ones who are dedicated to this city, experienced the roller coaster and have fought hard to get us to where we are today to manage the growth in a smart direction and to have a say in how the city participates.  The actual BID (non-profit with a board of directors who are stakeholders) will be in full control of the entire amount.  The BID will not be made up of absentee owners or investors.
• We have had Steve Ha from WCU conduct a study that conservatively estimates that a BID will result in an additional 5% retail sales increase and a 2% property value increase per year.  This easily negates the .07/$100 value of property proposed assessment in addition to opening up potential for more jobs and economic activity downtown and as the largest economic engine in WNC, further benefiting our entire region by expanding the pie for everyone.
• It has the potential to learn from the over 1,000 cities nationwide (50 in NC) with successful BID’s best practices and mistakes and to allow Asheville to be a beacon of smart, long-term planned growth instead of being beholden to the haphazard short-term economic choices of a few.

In addition, as Asheville becomes more desirable and popular large corporations are eyeing downtown as the next frontier.  We have seen downtown and urban areas across the nation change drastically for the worse with the encroachment of chain stores and formula businesses.  At this point this is mainly up to property owners as to who they choose to lease their space to.  Though a BID cannot prevent this from happening, we can see the inherent value in fostering a dialog among business owners, property owners, residents, the city and non-profits that focuses on smart sustainable growth by reinvesting our own wealth in our home and for a future all of us want.

We would like to see the BID accepted for the initial trial period of 3 years with a clear set of goals and stringent public accountability in addition to assessing performance indicators across all sectors of our downtown community.  We also would like to see the city’s baseline services be ensured and publicly monitored.  Lastly, in contracting services out, we would strongly encourage the BID hire locally and utilize primarily locally owned independent businesses. Comments welcome.

CA$hevillains mob downtown!

This gallery contains 28 photos.

Wednesday, May 16 marked the debut of the latest escapade staged by Asheville Grown in partnership with the Asheville Downtown Association and Asheville Event Planning and Staffing. Second Gear and Strada Italian restaurant were the downtown targets of the CA$hevillains. … Continue reading →

CA$hevillains 1st Strike!

illustration by Stu Helm of Cheesy Graphics

Wednesday May 16th 5:30pm

Downtown Asheville

A new social networking movement is coming to Asheville. At 5:30pm on Wednesday, May 16th, Asheville’s first official “Cash Mob” event will hit downtown. The event is being sponsored by the Asheville Downtown Association and the Asheville Grown Business Alliance, in cooperation with Asheville Event Planning and Staffing.

Based on the idea of a flash mob, the ‘Cash Mob’ was originally started in Buffalo, New York, in August 2011. The idea has become very popular, and is rapidly spreading to communities across the United States, Canada, and the world. Asheville’s cash mob group, Ca$hevillains, was created by a handful of volunteers, and is quickly gaining momentum throughout our community.

“Asheville is lucky to have so many local businesses;” says Joanna Figart, Asheville Downtown Association and cash mob organizer, “we’re excited to give them a boost and support our neighbors with this fun event. Downtown seemed like a natural place to start but we anticipate growing the event and striking all year round!”

Ca$hevillains’ goal is to encourage people to go into local independent businesses and spend their money, en masse, to give the business owners a little bit of economic stimulus and show our support. The mobs are designed to help businesses grow, while encouraging participants to have fun and meet new people. During the actual mob, each person is encouraged to spend around $20, meet three new people, and gather at a local watering hole for snacks and drinks at the after-mob party.

Cash Mobs are created and managed using Facebook groups and Twitter pages. Organizers use the networks to raise local awareness, make announcements, and create excitement for the various events. Participants are instructed when and where to meet, and encouraged to nominate local businesses for future cash mob events. The location for the first Asheville Cash Mob on May 16th will be announced the week of the event on the Cashevillians’ Facebook page and Twitter feed.

“The idea is to highlight Asheville’s independent businesses and keep money circulating in the local economy” said Franzi Charen, Asheville Grown Business Alliance, and cash mob organizer. “We’re very excited about the potential impact and awareness this event can create. It’s the just the first of many to come.”

The secret victim has agreed to give 10% of their day’s proceeds to Mountain BizWorks and anyone who rides their bike to the event will receive 10% off their purchase.

For more information about this event, or to join the group, e-mail ashevillegrown@gmail.com or visit the Cashevillians’ Facebook page at facebook.com/cashevillains and follow them on Twitter, @cmasheville.

Big Love is right around the corner

Many thanks to Drew Findley of Subject Matter Studio for this year’s poster artwork!

Experience the LOVE:

Dear Asheville,

Last year we sent you a love letter and then had the dreamiest date. Now it’s our anniversary, and the torch we carry for you is still burning bright.

In celebration of you, we’re throwing a party.  Let’s do it again!

Asheville Grown Business Alliance and The Big Crafty are putting on another celebration of unchained and independent Asheville. We like to think of Big Love Fest as a ritual affirmation of the value of community in commerce and a festive annual showcase of the amazing things Ashevillians are up to.

And this year we have even more to celebrate!  In recognition of the natural connection between the local economy, our vibrant community and our schools, we’re partnering with the Asheville City Schools Foundation through the Go Local Card program. Look for the Love Asheville – Go Local Card offers throughout the festival!

In addition, we are pleased to announce our musical guests Kovacs and the Polar Bear, Floating Action, Pleasure Chest and the Decent Lovers.  This year Asheville FM, our fair city’s newest, non-profit, community radio station is joining hands with the Big Love Festival.  They will be hosting a stage jam-packed with local musicians and DJs ushering in summer with the piping hot sounds of sonic wow!

Big Love Fest is sponsored and made possible by over 150 local and independent businesses, crafters, artists, entertainers, restaurants, breweries, non-profits and is free to attend. Our mission is to highlight independently owned businesses in the community and to celebrate their vital economic, social and cultural role in our vibrant local economy.  Our vendors have been selected & we will post them here soon.

See you there!

Big Love Fest
Pack Square Park
Sunday May 6, 2012
1pm – 8pm

Asheville Rejects Corporate Personhood!

We commend the City Council’s unanimous vote on Valentine’s Day to pass a resolution calling for a constitutional amendment revoking corporate personhood and declaring that money is not speech.

Though we have a long way to go before an actual amendment could take place, by joining cities like NYC & LA and many others, we are taking a stand and letting our politicians know that we are strongly opposed to the increasing power of corporations in our government.

Why are you so concerned about corporations?

Corporations’ decisions are made by a very small number of individuals, but they may command resources that vastly exceed those of ordinary citizens. Since the primary purpose of most corporations is to maximize profit, they often have a direct interest in weakening regulations that protect workers, communities, smaller businesses, and the environment, and they can often easily outspend political candidates who wish to preserve such regulations. Currently, corporations need not consult their shareholders about political contributions.

What is corporate personhood, and why are you so focused on it?

Under current law, corporations have human “rights” like free speech and privacy. This has wide-ranging implications – for example, the right to free speech means that corporations may spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns. The right to privacy means that regulators are not allowed to make surprise inspections on factories. The people who work for, run, and own corporations are, of course, entitled to the rights of free speech and privacy – but a corporation is not a person, it is a legal invention for making money, and the most egregious abuses of corporate power are made possible by the idea that they have human rights.

What about the idea that money is speech?

This is another creation of the Supreme Court – the Constitution says nothing about this. It came from the 1976 Buckley vs. Valeo case, in which the court ruled that spending money to influence elections is a form of free speech.

Questions above taken from a Madison, WI Move to Amend Campaign Flyer – for more information click HERE.

Indie Businesses ROCKED the HOLIDAYS!

The fifth annual post-holiday survey of independent businesses by the Institute for Local Self Reliance yielded powerful evidence that pro-local attitudes are growing and suggests Independent Business Alliances like Asheville Grown are yielding direct benefits for the local economy.

“We know independent businesses are key to leading the way out of recession. The survey results confirm the growing number of communities refocusing energy on local entrepreneurs”

• The survey tallied responses from 1768 businesses, all independent and locally-owned, across 49 states. About half were retailers. Among the notable results:
• A larger share (61%) of respondents reported revenue growth in 2011 compared to 2010.
• Independent retailers enjoyed stronger holiday sales than the retail sector as a whole. While overall holiday sales were up 4.1% in 2011, respondents (all independents) reported an average sales increase of 6.7%.
• More than three-quarters of businesses surveyed said public awareness of the benefits of doing business locally had increased in the last year.
• Independent businesses in communities with an active “buy independent/buy local” campaign run by grassroots groups like Asheville Grown saw revenues grow 7.2% in 2011, compared to 2.6% for those in areas without an alliance.
• Looking solely at retail respondents, the survey found those in areas with an active alliance reported holiday sales growth of 8.5% in 2011, compared to 5.2% for retailers in areas without such an initiative.

“Throughout the holiday season, we were hearing anecdotally from independent business owners that they were especially busy and many customers were seeking out locally owned stores. The results of this survey suggest that this was indeed a widespread trend,” said Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).

The Asheville Grown Business Alliance (AGBA) is a member of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), a national network of more than 80 community alliances supporting local entrepreneurs. “We know independent businesses are key to leading the way out of recession. The survey results confirm the growing number of communities refocusing energy on local entrepreneurs, rather than transient corporations, are receiving a great payback from their investment,”
said Jennifer Rockne, co-director of the AMIBA.

“Asheville’s unique independent spirit keeps growing. With the success of initiatives like the Go Local Card bridging the gap between public schools and our entrepreneurs and the second annual Big Love Fest, a celebration of unchained and independent Asheville, we are optimistic that in 2012 we will see even greater results,” said Franzi Charen, director of AGBA.

Survey Results HERE

Big Ideas for 2012

In 2012, let’s dedicate ourselves to a “maker” system of economics that’s based on creating new value, not trading old value. Let’s focus on those who develop tools within our community to replace consumption as an end in itself, and create a manifesto that guides city contracts and organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, to seek the participation of local creative entrepreneurs first.

To encourage more entrepreneurs, the city should make it easier to launch a business. Navigating our building and fire codes and permitting costs is daunting and can result in a heavier-than-anticipated debt load, especially for manufacturers.

Leaders must recognize the arts and cultural events as part of economic development. Our officials need to embrace the vitality of our community’s creative sector and pursue more strategic planning and top-down directives aimed at involving small, creative businesses and grass-roots cultural innovators. As economic drivers, outdoor cultural events can be encouraged, not just managed or kept from causing harm. “Asheville is filled with thousands of creative entrepreneurs whose vital energy is, as yet, unharnessed. Let’s bring that to bear on our economic woes,” urges Kitty Love, executive director of the Asheville Area Arts Council.

In 2010, WNC consumers bought $62 million worth of local food, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project estimates. As a top food destination, Asheville is at the center of this market. In 2012, city leaders should be seen at the tailgate markets and farm tours. They can lead by example, choosing local food and food providers for conferences and events, and buying community-supported agriculture subscriptions for themselves and their employees. By promoting the Asheville City Market’s ability to accept EBT payments and encouraging area schools to buy locally grown food, they would show that they understand the critical link between our food and our community’s health.

Let’s recognize the deep connection between quality public schools and a thriving economy. “Asheville City Schools are the city’s schools, and we must invest in our urban public schools to keep families within the city limits who will live, work and shop in our urban centers,” notes Leah Ferguson, co-director of the Asheville City Schools Foundation.

Embrace our community fiber network & the increasing importance of our community’s ability to run and operate our own high speed broadband.  Our community is lucky to have both a nonprofit broadband “middle-mile” provider (ERC Broadband) and a nonprofit broadband “last-mile” provider (Mountain Area Information Network). By supporting local nonprofit broadband infrastructure local independent businesses are ensured affordable access and the freedom to innovate at the grassroots level and a crucial accessible alternative to the absentee-owned cable and telephone companies.

Leaders should publicly shift their bank accounts to small local banks and credit unions & encourage the city, county, foundations, utilities & businesses to follow suit & develop relationships with the banks that are willing to invest back into their communities.

When considering subsidizing businesses to move their operations here, we should consider what kinds of impact shifting those subsidies would provide locally-owned independent businesses & business incubators within our community.

It’s time to join the ever-increasing number of cities (including Los Angeles and most recently New York City) that have taken a stand against corporate personhood, adopting resolutions declaring that money isn’t speech and corporations aren’t people.

These are just a few key issues. Ultimately, we hope 2012 will be a pivotal year for our city leaders to embrace our widely accepted community campaign, promoting the key role of locally owned businesses in our economy’s vitality.

Originally published in the Mountain Xpress: http://www.mountainx.com/article/38979/Community-economics

Shifting to Local Yields More Jobs, Stronger Communities

by Jeff Milchen and Michael Shuman

According to the National Retail Federation, Americans will spend an average of about $700 per person on holiday season shopping this year and, despite the hype surrounding Black Friday, the busiest shopping week immediately precedes Christmas. But rather than enduring long lines and sparse service at chain stores, we urge you take a different approach: seek out your local independent merchants and service providers, meet your neighbors and fully integrate your values in your purchasing decisions.

This is not a call to “get out and shop” — far from it. In fact, we encourage you consider many great gifts that don’t increase consumption: a meal at an independent restaurant, tickets to a local concert, durable locally-made goods. Most of all, consider the many benefits of patronizing local independent businesses for whatever you choose. Among the benefits:

* You’ll create local jobs. And not just any jobs. While chain outlet’s create mostly positions for clerks and cashiers, local businesses are hiring accountants, graphic designers, webmasters and many other positions the chains (or online giants) centralize at corporate headquarters. A multitude of small entrepreneurs provides a more vital and durable financial base than dependence on a few large corporations.

* Local businesses typically require less driving, consume far less land and have a lighter environmental impact. Because they focus primarily on local markets, local businesses place a high premium on being easily accessible by local residents. They tend to bolster community character and vitality, rather than segregating residential areas from clusters of big box development.

* Part of what makes any community great is how well it preserves its unique culture, foods, ecology, architecture, history, music, and art. Local businesses celebrate these features, while chains tend to homogenize, following a corporate template rather than respecting local architecture or customs.

* We know from studies by respected social scientists like C Wright Mills and Melville Ulmer going back more than half a century (Small Business and Civic Welfare) that small-business oriented communities “provided for their residents a considerably more balanced economic life than did big business cities” and “the general level of civic welfare was appreciably higher.” A few years ago, Professor Thomas Lyson of Cornell University updated that study by looking at 226 U.S. counties dependent on big outside manufacturers. He found these communities “vulnerable to greater inequality, lower levels of welfare, and increased rates of social disruption than localities where the economy is more diversified.”

* Studies of voting behavior suggest economically diverse communities have higher participation rates in local politics. The long-term relationships fostered by local business tend to enhance commitment to civic institutions like schools, churches, charities, and fraternal leagues that are essential to both local economic success and community cohesiveness.

* Finally, going local is better for you! You’ll enjoy more personal interactions, more distinctive choices, and real value.

We write on behalf of two organizations that help advance a broader Localization Movement working to revitalize communities, downtowns and independent businesses of all kinds, the American Independent Business Alliance and Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. Along with other key organizations, we’ve joined forces for the first time to advance a new campaign, Shift Your Shopping, which urges us all to “Choose Local and Independent” for the holidays.

That doesn’t mean asking anyone to swear off shopping online, dining at chains, or sacrifice their wishes. Even a modest shift of 10% more spending going to independent community-based businesses this season would create dramatic changes for the better in our economy, including a wave of new job creation (especially if we seek out more domestically-madegoods).

Our choices of what and where to buy impact not only us and the people we give to, but the prosperity of our community and even our country. Along with helping your neighbors and community, you might find “going local” turns holiday shopping into a far more enjoyable experience.

Jeff Milchen is a co-founder of the American Independent Business Alliance, which helps communities develop effective buy local/independent campaigns and many other pro-local initiatives.

Michael Shuman is research director for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economiesand author of The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition.

more information can be found here: http://www.amiba.net/news/2011-media/buy-local-shuman-milchen

The BIG CRAFTY Golden Holiday

• 90 hand-selected indie crafters, artists & makers
• Hand-crafted beer from Pisgah, French Broad & Highland Breweries!
• Local treats from Short Street Cakes, Ursa Minor Coffee & Firestorm Cafe
• Festive DJ’d music

Plus free admission to the Asheville Art Museum!!

We’ll be there with stickers, Love Asheville shirts and this is a great opportunity to purchase the Asheville Go Local Card.   Shifting your shopping made easy!