HomeMy WebLinkAbout4845-20 Resolution to encourage local residents to buy local REQS® 'dON
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana_
March 9, 20
20
Attest' 2/ie ! City Clerk
41-11
AttestA /4i-)(la" I �`-� President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
March 9, 2020
/1-4 • 1)/(14) City Clerk
Approved and signed by me ` << L 3 20 2 .
BILL NO. 20-04
RESOLUTION NO.4845-20
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 foot 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,purchasing from 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
of global warming gases attributed to the import of foods by limiting the use of fossil fuels; and
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
actions of the City; and
WHEREAS,in addition to the benefits of residents buying local, purchasing local 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 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