February 12th 2010
From Cleveland to Tempe, economic developers are convincing institutions with big spending power to shift more dollars to small businesses in their communities.
"Buy local" campaigns normally encourage consumers to shop at small downtown stores—the funky café, indie bookseller, or boutique grocer. Getting big institutions to switch to local suppliers has rarely been part of the equation.
But small business groups and economic developers are beginning to push big buyers like governments, universities, and hospitals to see what goods and services they can purchase locally. Advocates say a small shift in spending by these organizations can yield a profound benefit for small businesses in their communities.
