Winter Institute Sessions Turn Spotlight on Localism

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While more consumers are choosing to shop locally to support their communities, a number of challenges remain for local economies, as presenters will discuss during three education sessions on localism at Winter Institute 11, which kicks off this weekend at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colorado.

On the agenda for Monday, January 25, is the “Amazon & Empty Storefronts: A Civic Economics Study” session, to be held from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in Governor’s Square 15. The session will feature Dan Houston and Matt Cunningham of Civic Economics, a leader in research related to local economies and the impact of shopping decisions. Houston and Cunningham will present compelling new data resulting from a study that quantifies the real costs and ramifications of Amazon.com’s expansion. They will be joined by Stacy Mitchell, co-director of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and coordinator of Advocates for Independent Business, who will discuss local and national policy considerations regarding an equitable and sustainable economy.

On Tuesday, January 26, from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Governor’s Square 14, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3, an urban planning consulting firm, will deliver the featured talk “City Growth and Downtown Math.” Based on new research conducted in Durango, Colorado, Minicozzi will demonstrate how city economics improve with the inclusion of downtown independent retail. Booksellers will learn how to begin discussions and advocacy on behalf of locally owned business with planning groups, elected officials, and others responsible for city management.

Also on Tuesday, “The New Localism,” the most recent addition to the Winter Institute education lineup, will bring together the four thought leaders from the earlier localism sessions — Dan Houston and Matt Cunningham of Civic Economics, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3, and Stacy Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance — who will offer context and analysis regarding the critical policy decisions that affect and shape local economies. ABA CEO Oren Teicher will moderate the session, which will take place from 10:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Plaza Ballroom E/F.

See the full Winter Institute schedule here.