In public meetings across the country, many folks are desperately trying to come up with the next “whiz bang” idea to help small communities maintain their local economies. 

It’s tough out there … and it’s bound to get tougher before it gets better.

But wouldn’t it be great if people weren’t encouraged to go down the path of searching for a big bonanza answer to local small business woes?  Does anyone remember the monorail episode on The Simpsons?  Unfortunately, that, too, was a dead end (although with catchier music).

Click here to view the embedded video.

The idea that a “whiz bang” attraction will solve all your woes is idealistic, at best, and stupid, at worst. 

It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to realize the only way for communities to increase chances for local business success is to help them increase the number of customers who walk in and out of their front doors.  While it’s tempting to make the leap that big attractions are needed in order to attract those customers, it’s simply not a practical answer for many small towns. 

But neither does it mean that all is doom and gloom. 

Many towns, in fact, are already doing many of the smaller, less glamorous things that make up 90% of the work required to build a realistic and sustainable local economy.  Things like infrastructure improvements, building demolition, and facade upgrades, for instance, are all “small bang” activities.  Alongside other community-initiated projects, these are exactly the types of improvements that help make any small community a good place to live and work.

People don’t need to chase “whiz bang,” they just need to continue to do what they’re already doing … concentrate on becoming a successful, attractive town that is a nice place to live.  With a little explanation and encouragement, the folks who do live there will happily provide the support necessary to keep a local economy thriving, as long as it’s realistically scaled to its means.

A monorail, you say?  Thanks, but no thanks.

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A US survey of independent businesses found that those in communities with an active ‘buy local’ campaign experienced significantly stronger revenue growth in 2010 compared to those located in areas without one.

From the accompanying press release:

“The survey, which was conducted by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance over an 8-day period in January, gathered data from 2,768 independent businesses.  It found that those in places with an active ‘buy local’ campaign run by an Independent Business Alliance or Local First group reported revenue growth of 5.6% on average in 2010, compared to 2.1% for those elsewhere. 

Business owners active in these community initiatives also reported a wide range of benefits, including greater customer loyalty and more awareness of the needs of independent businesses among city officials.  Similar surveys over the last three years have produced similar results.”

Click through to read more about the survey and its results.

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American Thanksgiving has traditionally been the kick-off to the holiday shopping season.  And with many retailers offering blockbuster deals on what has come to be known as Black Friday, a new, localized movement has also sprung up, encouraging folks to support their local stores on Small Business Saturday.

The Small Business Saturday campaign is designed to highlight the economic importance of small businesses and to encourage residents to shop locally the weekend of American Thanksgiving. 

American Express is a lead promoter of the Small Business Saturday initiative and is offering a $25 credit to 100,000 of its cardholders who pledge to use their cards at independent businesses on November 27. 

Learn more about the Small Business Saturday initiative via their website smallbusinesssaturday.com or Facebook page.

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