Local Groups for Localism

A little more internet research reveals that there are a couple of groups in town working to promote the local economy. One is a local chapter of amiba, the Fayetteville Independent Business Alliance (FIBA), and the other is Fayetteville Goes Local.

FIBA came to my attention via an article by ace reporter D.R. Bartlette (who has an excellent blog). There are three parts to their mission:
1. General education and awareness
2. As a political link
3. Marketing and advertising
I'd like to see on their website what the money from membership goes to and why shopping locally is important. Give it to me in a nutshell. I'll then pass that nutshell on when people ask why the heck we're doing what we're doing. The group sounds interesting so I'll look into it more and post again later after I finish my homework.

Fayetteville Goes Local confuses me. Their headline on the home page is "empowering people to create a thriving local economy" and the mission statement sounds like it aims to be a hub for any local activist groups. That sounds like a neat idea but the activities listed don't really have anything to do with the local economy. Just using the current trendy phrase to get some interest? I don't know.

The best way to correct the not knowing would naturally be to attend one of their weekly meetings...which I can't do. "Why?" you ask. Too lazy, too introverted, too broke? Nope. They meet at Qdoba. Huh. A group about the local economy that meets at a chain restaurant, which is itself owned by an even larger chain (Jack in the Box). At 440 locations, they are definitely a no-no for us this year. The group has their reasons for why they meet at a chain but I'm not convinced. If I'm going to spend money at a restaurant there are at least 15 local ones in a 2 mile radius from Qdoba I can choose from and know I'm still in Fayetteville, not any-Qdoba-town, USA. I just can't take a group seriously that can't put its money where its mouth is.