This is a great piece written by the founder of the American Independent Business Alliance, Jeff Milchen.  SF Alliance is a proud member of AMIBA and one of the largest networks in the country.  Help us spread the Local First message!

Here’s the opening paragraph of the story . . .

The 2009 holiday season was a tough one for retail businesses. In November, their sales increased just 1.8 percent over low 2008 numbers—failing to keep pace with inflation. December was worse, with sales actually falling three tenths of a percent from 2008.

But in more than a hundred communities across North America, independent community-based businesses had a more positive story to tell.

Read more . . .

http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/the-power-of-local