As reported in the Marco Eagle, Lee County’s Board of Port Commissioners are considering giving local companies an advantage in bidding. 
“I’m looking for a mechanism that states clearly that we will use local vendors unless required by law,” CommissionerTammy Hall said. Read more…
Lee County Eyes Local Preference Law
Filed under Uncategorized
Give Camp to Give in Orlando
We applied, and you should too! 
From their website, GiveCamp is a weekend-long event where technology professionals – including designers, developers and database administrators as well as marketers and web strategists donate their time and unique talents to provide software solutions for local charities and other non-profit organizations.
Filed under Uncategorized
Ourlando Interviewed
Local independent businesses are becoming more and more prevalent in communities here and abroad, and for good reason. In the central Florida community, there is Ourlando. Accoring to Scott Tess, a board member for Ourlando, “the idea of [Ourlando] and the Think Local First Movement is to cultivate authentic community through local independent businesses.” 
Think Local First is certainly the mantra for the organization. On their website, you can find a directory of local independent businesses that have partnered with Ourlando to, as The Progressive Local Alliance for Community Enrichment puts it, empower the Ourlando community.
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Look Local for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store
“Cinda Baxter is on a mission: She wants to save America’s small businesses. A little more than two years ago, the Minneapolis-based retail consultant launched the first attack in her battle: The 3/50 Project, a grassroots group that encourages consumers to patronize local brick-and-mortar merchants.
This month,The 3/50 Project announced its next move: LookLocal, an iPhone app that helps users to find locally owned “mom and pop” businesses.”
See full article from DailyFinance:http://srph.it/o9ZbGM
Independents can sign up to be listed here: The 3/50 Project
and consumers can find local businesses here: Look Local for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store.
Filed under Local Economies, Ways To Co-Create
Marion County Keeps it Local and Saves
The Star Banner, based in Ocala, reported this week on the success of Marion County’s government procurement law which supports local vendors and contractors by giving them a second chance to outbid their competitors when the first round of bids are within 5% of each other. County Administrator Lee Niblock has found that the bid process innovation is actually saving the county money by allowing a second round of more competitive bidding. The process also results in more frequent successful bids by local businesses, keeping county money local and doubly helping the local economy. Read the whole article…
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The Homegrown Cooperative is Bringing Produce to your Palate
by Natalie Costa
Grocery shopping for organic or locally grown foods doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions anymore. With central Florida’s very own Homegrown Cooperative, ethical shopping can be done right online and at an affordable price. With the intention of making the local economy more sustainable, this initiative is proving that ethical eating is a possibility. In this interview, Assistant Manager Richard Powell takes some time to explain the Cooperative and acknowledge the community for their support.
For further reading and a visual on how buying distantly grown produce is impacting our economy, check out this infographic.
This article originally posted on http://www.backpackjourna.com/
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