Locally Grown Northfield

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Help define 'local' by taking the KYMN 10-question survey

By Tim Freeland, on December 17, 2009, 9:11 am

We’re looking for your input on what you consider ‘local.’ KYMN has put together a quick 10-question anonymous survey that asks you questions pertaining to your views and habits in the local Northfield community and marketplace. Our findings will be shared with city government. Voice your opinion.

Click here to visit the KYMN survey page.

4 comments to Help define ‘local’ by taking the KYMN 10-question survey by Tim Freeland

1

Ross Currier says:

December 29, 2009 at 11:48 pm

Tim Freeland at KYMN is doing a survey about “what is local?”, one of my daughters asked me before Christmas if “south of the river” is more local than “north of the river”, and Jim Hammerand at the News called me late yesterday afternoon to see if the NDDC has a firm definition of “Local”…

…it seems to be the question of the moment.

Can I answer, “It depends”?

Years ago, when the Chamber and the NDDC were doing the Retail Support Strategies work for the EDA, we kind of liked the “Local First” concept…or, specifically, “Try to Find It in Northfield First”. If you need (or want) something, look for in in town first, or perhaps see if a local store will order it for you, and, if not, then begin to expand your definition of “local”.

Sometimes it (really) depends on what you’re needing (or wanting). If you are trying to buy a car, you can find one in Northfield. If you are determined to drive a BMW, you probably need to go to the Metro Area. If you gotta have a Maserati, I’m guessing Greenwich, CT.

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2

kiffi summa says:

December 30, 2009 at 8:11 am

This has become a rather hot topic, Ross… you’re right .

But to me it is not ‘specific’ as much as an attitudinal thing…
Which is: If you like this community enough that you choose to live here, then also choose to support its retailers, businesses, banks, doctors, because they probably mostly all live here also.

If you choose to live in an “independent small town”, rather than a suburb, then support that small town so it can be as economically strong as possible.

Isn’t that more important than the strict definition of “local”?

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3

Griff Wigley says:

January 5, 2010 at 7:33 pm

Sat. Nfld News: Staying ‘local’: It means different things to different people.

State law requires sealed bidding for procurements or contracted services, but not professional services, in excess of $100,000. “Local does not come in to play on that … and can not,” City Administrator Joel Walinski said. But cities do have some leeway on local spending, he said, and look to the Office of the State Auditor and the League of Minnesota Cities for guidance. They advise that cities can go with a local business over a more distant one if all else is equal or if there’s a demonstrable cost savings to doing business locally, Walinski said. Just what the council considers local, he said, is “still up for debate.”

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4

Griff Wigley says:

January 5, 2010 at 7:34 pm

KYMN straw poll results:
http://kymnradio.net/2010/01/04/kymn-local-survey-poll-results/

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