Elissa Sangali, the bright and energetic new executive director of Local First, says spending your money at locally owned businesses is a triple play – it strengthens the economy, safeguards the environment, and promotes social justice. She sat down with Rapid Growth and talked about her civic group's mission, Pfizer's pullout, and where we get our apples.
You just took over Local First. How's it going?
It's going well. My favorite part is meeting all the business owners. I've supported local business for a long time. But now I'm getting to know the people behind it all. So instead of going to, say, Art of the Table I'm going to Amy's store.
We've heard plenty about the economic crisis, and seen several downtown businesses recently close. What's the attitude among small business owners these days?
Winter is always a tough time, especially for retail shops that depend on people walking around. So there's this awareness that things are cyclical. But overall I sense a lot of energy and enthusiasm around the future of our neighborhoods, and particularly locally owned business.
That's where your organization comes in, right?
We're out there to support local businesses, and to talk to people about the economic benefits of supporting their locally owned stores, restaurants, and shops.
What are the economics of shopping local?
68 cents of every dollar spent at a local business stays in, and recirculates through, your community. By contrast, only 43 cents stays in the community if you spend at a chain or some other non-local store. That makes a big difference when you're talking about job creation, our tax base, etc.
Why is it important to keep money in the local economy?
If we keep our money here we keep our jobs here. More specifically, we help to keep the decision making power on where jobs locate. If Pfizer was locally based would they pull out of Kalamazoo? Maybe not.
Five questions into the interview and you're already slamming a big corporate giant like Pfizer?
I'm not slamming Pfizer. They do great work. I grew up around Kalamazoo originally. And my grandfather worked for Upjohn. My mom was raised on the Upjohn Farm. Then Upjohn sold out to Pharmacia, and then to Pfizer. And with each sale, more and more jobs moved out of the area. Maybe that would've happened if the ownership stayed local but maybe not. Locally owned businesses are invested in their community. Drive around town and checkout who is funding a great deal of Grand Rapids' redevelopment.
How does a small nonprofit group like Local First work to push back against these types of global mega trends?
Our primary goal is to teach people about the benefits of supporting local business. We publish a local business directory. We also do a lot of business-to-business networking and hold regular meetings where business owners and entrepreneurs talk about common challenges and opportunities.
What sort of businesses make up Local First?
We have tons of business services, from people in IT to marketing to construction to restaurants to retail shops and salon owners. We have a little bit of everything. One of our long term goals is to increase the connections among these local owners, and help them improve their operations.
Is Local First a GR thing, or are there other groups doing similar work?
We're part of an international network of organizations, and one of 50 in the United States.
Are there others here in Michigan?
In addition to us, there's another group in Ann Arbor called Think Local First. So technically there are only two official groups. But I just met with some people who want to start up a group in Lansing. People in Newaygo County are talking, as well as people in Ypsilanti and Traverse City. We're all meeting later this spring to put together a plan for the whole State of Michigan.
That's a big geographic area. How do you define 'local?'
The idea is to think in terms of concentric circles. If you can shop, get your groceries, get a haircut, or otherwise patronize businesses in your neighborhood then you do that first. If there are things that you can't find in your neighborhood then you move out into the larger city, then the region, into the state, into the Midwest, into the U.S.
What's a good example of a local product that people might not tend to think about?
Apples. We live in Michigan, which I believe is the second largest apple producing state in the nation. Yet we sell Washington apples in our stores. Why are we carting apples 2,000 miles across the U.S.? They can't taste as good, and it certainly uses a lot of fuel and money.
Are non-local businesses bad?
No.
How can people connect with Local First, and support its mission?
Come to our annual street party. It's a celebration of local food, local beer, and local music. This year it's on June 9 in front of Bistro Bella Vita in downtown Grand Rapids. Our Website also lists all of our members and upcoming events.
Photos:
Elissa Sangali in conversation with Rapid Growth at Common Ground Coffee House - Midtown
Photographs © Brian Kelly