Strong Local Businesses

Definition: Includes the local economy, particularly small, Tucson-based businesses

What the community said:

• "Buy local."
• "We should focus on creating jobs, skills, and organization structures that keep money and resources within the community."
• "Focus on building and strengthening existing Tucson businesses. Let's invest in what we already have."
• "I would like to see our community supporting community-owned businesses more strongly. We have allowed mall stores and chains to dictate what and where we buy."
• "I want to buy a pair of socks for my child in a store owned by a Tucson family, not a Target, Walmart, or Kmart."

City Department/Office Support for this Goal:

• Economic Development - providing assistance and support to local businesses including site location assistance, obtaining permits, marketing and product development, productivity, quality enhancement, and business planning
• Equal Opportunity - implementing the city's Minority and Women Owned Business Program to ensure that these firms are afforded procurement opportunities within the city
• Intergovernmental Relations - assisting in the successful grant application for the Brownfields Pilot Project and working with other departments and other organizations to develop state and federal funding mechanisms for downtown redevelopment
• Procurement - providing positive stimulation to the local business economy, including administering the tax-offset program, which helps locals firms receive city contracts
• Police - investigating and arresting individuals who commit crimes against individuals and firms and providing advice to companies on deterring crime in and around their businesses
• Development Services - supporting commercial project expansions and new development by expediting plan reviews, permitting, and inspection processes
• Tucson Convention Center - implementing promotional activities to increase the number of events which positively impact the local economy and promoting job growth and new retail development
• Library - providing an extensive reference section and employing a business librarian to help local businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs and conducting outreach to business groups to increase awareness of available resources
• Solid Waste Management - providing high quality solid waste and recycling services at the lowest possible cost

Key Indicators of Progress:

1. Percentage of major employers headquartered in Tucson Locally-based companies tend to keep more of their profits in the community and feel a greater sense of loyalty to their home town. A higher percentage of local firms also indicates greater economic independence for the region. This figure can be measured from annual reports of local business activity.

In 1980, 76 of Southern AZ's largest 200 employers had headquarters here, including franchises owned by Southern Arizonans; their employment totalled 22,608 Full Time Equivalent positions. In 1997, 61 of the top 200 firms met that definition, representing 30,895 full time workers. (In 1997, there were 317,912 Total Wage and Salary Employees in Pima County)



Source: Arizona Daily Star 200 listings of all major employers, with subtotals for businesses and government/non-profit organizations and City Planning Department

2. Percentage of employees with health benefits Private health insurance help to insure that families are well taken care. As this indicator increases, we know that people are getting better, quality jobs and families have health care available to them. This can be measured through a citizen survey asking people whether they have health care coverage through their job.

Source: Resident survey

3. Percentage of companies adding employees in the past year Healthy, growing companies often respond to increased business by increasing the number of workers. Such firms drive the local economy by generating greater wealth for the community. Government employment statistics or surveys can provide this information.

Source: Business survey

4. Duration of local businesses The number or percentage of local businesses that were established three years ago that are still in business today. As the percentage of new businesses that survive this critical phase increases, it is one indication that the climate for local businesses is good.

City Business License data can be used for this analysis. However, all resources are currently being dedicated to Year 2000 preparations, so this Indicator will be developed later.

What YOU Can Do

• Buy merchandise and services from locally-owned shops
• Have lunch or dinner at a locally-owned restaurant
• Tell local merchants what you like better about chain store or franchise businesses so they can compete more effectively

Featured Project for this goal indicator.