Local First Column
Find all Local First columns at https://durangoherald.com/columns/131-local-first
Why look local first? We’ve known for a while that each dollar spent locally recirculates in the local economy to a greater extent than a dollar spent at a non-local business. According to a 2008 study by Civic Economics, for each dollar spent at a local business, 68 cents stays locally. For that same dollar spent on a non-local business, 43 cents stays locally. That means supporting local business keeps a quarter in our pocket for each dollar spent. That’s a 25% impact!
Have you heard about the Southwest Health Alliance?
We recently teamed up with Peak Health Alliance to bring affordable and effective health care to the La Plata County region. This partnership evolved from a year-long community needs assessment that Local First and The Durango Network completed in July. We held focus groups in January and spent 90 minutes each with our business community.
In my February 23rd column on the Durango Creative District, I had just finished a 30-day trip down the Grand Canyon and spoke to the inspiration of the outdoors and a burgeoning initiative to establish a Creative District in Durango.
As I write today, fresh off a Rio Chama float, I am pleased to update the community that the Durango Creative District has officially wrapped up a year-long stakeholder process and has been invited to apply for certification.
“If you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time.”
This famous quote coined by Zig Ziglar was taken to heart by the city of Durango at its Aug. 20 board meeting (see the Herald’s Aug. 27 article). Never heard of Ziglar? He was an American author, salesman and motivational speaker. I think he nailed it. How are we supposed to work toward a common goal as a community if none is set?
You may have heard the term “eat local” around town, and with the harvest season drawing near, this call to action becomes more relevant than ever.
Local First has a long track record of advocating for the eat local movement, including supporting local chefs and farmers and connecting the community to the restaurants in town that source their food locally.
