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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20-04 Resolution to encourage local residents to buy local ,runrr,•rr• ,,., 'soUT 8ti; City of South Bend (574)235-9321 /7.,‘,043w, „ Fax(574)235-9173 U �'�i � TDD 574 235-5567 ( P A Common Council _- r 1ittp:/_�cww.sou .- 411 OV ;lye , ^ a�,,� 441 County-City Building• 227 W.Jefferson Blvd F� Office =� « via = South Bend,Indiana 46601 South Bend Common Council j M1VIargh44q20' 4th Floor, County-City BuildingTim Scott L— DAWN South Bend, IN 46601 CITY CLERK,SOUTH BEND,IN President Karen L.White Re: A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON Vice-President COUNCIL ENCOURAGING LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND TO "BUY-LOCAL”TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MANY Sharon L. McBride BENEFITS OF PURCHASING FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES Chairperson,Committee of the Whole Dear Council Members: Tim Scott Today we are filing, for your consideration, a proposed Resolution First District identifying many benefits of purchasing goods and foods from local Henry Davis,Jr. businesses, including agricultural businesses. This Resolution also Second District encourages residents, the City of South Bend, and anchor institutions such as colleges and universities to participate in, and development of, economic Sharon L. McBride Third District partnerships by buying local whenever possible. Troy Warner We ask that this bill be included for discussion at the March 9, 2020 Fourth District Community Relations Committee meeting and subsequently considered at the full Council meeting. Jake Teshka Fifth District Sheila Niezgodski Sincerely yours, Sixth District Karen L. White i At Large (5---Orn Rachel Tomas Morgan Lori Hjmann, South Bend Common At Large Council, Member at Large Lori K. Hamann At Large • , Henry Davis, Jr. South-Fiend-Common Council, Second District BILL NO.20-04 RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON COUNCIL ENCOURAGING LOCAL RESIDENTS AND THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND TO "BUY-LOCAL" TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MANY BENEFITS OF PURCHASING FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES WHEREAS,The South Bend Common Council is proud of local-independent businesses, including local agricultural businesses, and supports the impact those businesses have on the City's culture, economy and character; and WHEREAS,by buying local South Bend and area residents encourage a strong sense of pride in our community; and WHEREAS,buying local improves and protects the environment because the purchasing habits, central location and smaller footprint of local businesses results in less pollution and congestion; and WHEREAS, according to The Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy, and Society, counties with a higher volume of local businesses have a lower rate of mortality, obesity, and diabetes presumably due to eating foods that are unadulterated with pesticides like organic fruits and vegetables, or free from hormone disrupting compounds like grass-fed meats, pasture-raised eggs and dairy; and WHEREAS,The Institute for Local Self-Reliance conducted a study which determined that each $100 spent at local independents generated $45 of secondary local spending, compared to $14 for big-box chain stores; and WHEREAS,a more recent study by a private research firm, Civic Economics, found that the total impact (direct, indirect and induced) on a Chicago neighborhood was $.68 for every dollar spent at local independents compared to $.43 projected for chain competitors, meaning$.68 of additional local economic return ultimately generated after additional spending cycles; and WHEREAS, another study, commissioned by the American Independent Business Alliance, found that local merchants generated twice as much sales activity per square fopt of a large chain store and nearly quadrupled the local economic return per square foot of the chain store projections; and WHEREAS,local businesses create diverse job opportunities, boost the local economy and preserve neighborhoods; and WHEREAS,purchasingfrom local businesses means less travel time from the farm to table thereby reducing the energy required to transport food by planes, trucks, and ships and reducing the nearly 250,000 tons ofglobal warminggases attributed to the import of foods bylimitingthe use of fossil fuels; and P WHEREAS,buying local means the risk of foodborne illnesses is reduced because the food is fresher; and WHEREAS,the benefits of buying local result not only from the actions of residents, but also from the n fth actions e City; and WHEREAS,in addition to the benefits of residents buying local, purchasinlocal goods and materials by the City will increase the City's self-reliance and resiliency, as well as acting as a model for local purchasing policies that support local business development and economic growth; and WHEREAS,colleges and universities are inherently an important potential institutional base for assisting community-based economic development in general, and civically engaged development in particular, and by strategically focusing higher education's academic programs and research to business practices colleges and universities can improve their core intellectual and academic work in part by giving students and faculty real-world experience which can inform both research and teaching. The Common Council therefore encourages participation in, and development of, economic partnerships with these valuable anchor institutions within our community; and WHEREAS,encouraging local businesses to follow sustainable practices will quicken their participation in high-growth sectors of the economy such as renewable energy, recycling, green building, zero waste and other sustainable businesses, which, in turn will encourage local graduates to remain in South Bend and attract new talent to the area. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AS FOLLOWS: Section I. The South Bend Common Council proudly celebrates local-independent endent businesses including agricultural businesses. • Section II. The Common Council encourages all residents to buy local whenever possible to give the community the benefits outlined above together with other benefits that may not yet be recognized. Section III. The Common Council also encourages the City of South Bend and anchor institutions to buy local whenever not prohibited by Federal, State or local law. Section IV. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Tim Scott, Council President South Bend Common Council