Stacy Mitchell, Author and Small Business Advocate

Today's guest will be Stacy Mitchell, small business advocate and author of Big Box Swindle.  She is a passionate throught leader in the movement of local investment in local business.  Stacy's direction has been based on her feeling that large chains have basically taken up the band width in most of our cities and as a result have crushed those businesses that would make the most impact in our communities. 

Stacy has been able to artculate some of the hidden costs of these large businesses and what cities need to be aware of before brining them in, in their efforts to secure more jobs for their communities.  In essence, the practices of these companies strucuturally don't don what they're billed to do without vigilant city planning and community involvement.  In other words, there probably need to be concessions made prior to deciding that a business is right for a community.

Naturally, her message has been well recieved in those circles that have embraced the "locavesting' concept that we need to look to create level playing fields for smaller players to be able to make their way into the public debate.  We will be looking for her to discuss not only her outline of the problem, but we'll also be looking to her to talk about her feelings about what will be needed in order to see change in the near future.

Many of the issues that Stacy talks about in her book are endemic to our region of the country here in Central Pa.  As has been discussed many times, there will need to be some delicate planning in order to move the region forward. As much as we may not necessarily want to acknowledge the region's future freedom will be tied to the success of Harrisburg.

We're looking forward to Stacy's insight on what communities need to do in light of new alternatives in funding for business and the advent of social media.