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Satisfying a craving at Oak Street's Po-boy Fest in November. |
Americans are voting with their feet to abandon strip malls and suburban sprawl, embracing instead a new
type of community where they can live, work, shop, and play within easy walking distance, according to Christopher B. Leinberger, author of the newly
released book, The
Option of Urbanism: Investing in a New American Dream, which lists the "Top 10 Metro Areas for Best Walkable Urban
Lifestyle," ranking areas that offer Gen Xers, empty nesters and others fueling this
trend what they want: homes a short walk from work, entertainment, schools, shops and
restaurants.
New Orleans doesn't appear on that list...yet.
Stay Local! is raising the visibility of local businesses and public awareness of the "local
premium" we fuel
when spending our dollars at locally owned businesses.
We are also urging policy makers to recognize the potential of New Orleans' traditional commercial corridors as
engines of both economic and cultural development, and invest in them accordingly. Witness Oak Street's first annual Poboy
Preservation
Festival last month, complete with
packed house for the scholarly panel on the history of the poboy, and attendance for the one-day event topping 10,000.
Cultural and economic impact: that's a double premium that comes naturally to New Orleans' neighborhood-based
businesses, fests and markets,
particularly in a city where the cultural economy is the centerpiece of this historic city's continued renewal and vibrancy.
Leinberger's research supports Stay Local!'s work. "The Option of Urbanism shows how
the American Dream, characterized by a sub-urban lifestyle, is shifting, but outdated federal policies, local zoning laws, financial institutions'
formulas and lack of experience by real estate developers still encourage low-density, car- dependent suburban development. The book presents a
compelling case for a new national approach and for America's financial and real estate industries to respond to demand for walkable urbanism across
the country," according to the press
release.
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Save the Dates!
The Second Annual "Stabilize, Sustain, and Grow" Business Summit is scheduled for Friday, February 22 and
Saturday, February 23. The Summit will build upon the themes raised at our January 2007 conference. Once
again, we will bring business owners and business advocates together to discuss and strategize on areas of concern. Topics this year include
Building Disaster Resilient Businesses, Insurance (what's available, what coverage
businesses need), and Sustainable Growth Strategies.
Details to follow.
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Seen the Latest? Spotlight on Po-boys!
It's a coupon, it's a directory, it's both! Stay Local! partnered with Idea Village to create an industry-specific guide as part of the Idea Village
po-boy
initiative. It doubles as a
coupon at the listed businesses, so pick one up at participating po-boy shops or download the guide and print it off.
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This newsletter was sent to you for at least one of the following reasons: you have
registered a qualifying locally-owned and operated business within Greater New Orleans to be listed on Stay Local!'s
website; you are a business advocate that provides financial, technical
or other assistance to locally-owned
businesses in the Greater New Orleans area; or you are an individual
who understands that shopping at independent businesses first and
whenever
possible supports a more sustainable economy and environment, and
strengthens New Orleans' one-of-a-kind culture.
Stay Local! is an initiative of The Urban Conservancy.
If you were sent this newsletter in error, please accept our apologies. Opting out is as easy as
clicking on the "opt out" button below. |
Your continued support sustains us. Thank
you!
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