We can strengthen and transform our communities and economies on a local level. I believe the best way to accomplish this is to build alliances amongst community groups, activists, and small business leaders. (The politicians will follow the bandwagon.)
We already see some hopeful signs. Several Florida business organizations, including the Florida Chamber, have been promoting the notion of "buying local." This statewide effort -- dubbed "Backyard Economics" -- encourages Florida to spend money in their own local communities. In fact they have developed a discount card for a deal at many Florida businesses, big or small, corporate or not. Consumers can download a discount card for participating businesses.... And an example of a local organization that does a great job promoting their local businesses with the "Backyard" campaign is the Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce. This organization really promotes their downtown and the nice mix of local businesses there. The energy to do that comes from volunteer business leaders like Kat Hoffman, managing partner of Caribbean Kat's Trading, a fun boutique on Main Street in Safety Harbor, FL.
We should applaud these efforts, but it does not take the local theme as far as it needs to go. There are numerous examples of community organizations in the Tampa Bay area. I recently came across one example of a community-based social network launched this year in Tarpon Springs. Code Green Community invites Tarpon Springs residents to work together to create a more green and sustainable community. It was started by a St. Pete College student Eric Stewart, and the site has attracted a core group of member that are doing some cool green and sustainable things. Eric and his friends also offer others help in setting up their own "Code Green" type network in their own towns. This is the kind of alliance-building and social entrepreneurship that we need to nourish and grow many times over.
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