1	Smart Growth To grow “smart” means involving citizens in choosing a future that: provides housing options for people of all incomes and ages: protects farmland and open space; revitalizes neighborhoods and offers a variety of convenient options for getting around.
2	Smart Growth Principles Create Range of Housing Opportunities and Choices Create Walkable Neighborhoods Encourage Community and Stakeholder Collaboration Foster Distinctive, Attractive Communities with a Strong Sense of Place Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair and Cost Effective Mix Land Uses Preserve Open Space, Farmland, Natural Beauty and Critical Environmental Areas Provide a Variety of Transportation Choices Strengthen and Direct Development Towards Existing Communities Take Advantage of Compact Building Design
3	Stafford Mercantile Proposal Tannis Longmore Deb Winicki Nancy Neff
4	What is a community-owned mercantile? A community-owned mercantile is a community-based retail business that provides major stakeholders (members of the community and local business-owners) the opportunity to invest in a community business. Children’s Mercantile Fort Collins, Colorado Angel’s Camp Mercantile, Wyoming
5	A community-owned mercantile is more than just a store. It’s an investment in… Stafford… Us
6	Scope Statement Why are we interested in this project? In Conjunction with the Stafford First Mission to promote responsible development in Stafford and to protect the town from big box development, our committee will research and develop a retail mercantile in Stafford. The likely structure for the mercantile would be community ownership.
7	Purposes of Store Provide a low-priced outlet for items not currently available locally (alternative to Wal-Mart) To draw customers and spending to a walkable downtown business area To bring a portion of retail spending currently being leaked to surrounding towns back into the local economy To use a retail model that is profitable but not profit-driven, providing more flexibility and adaptability to the needs of the market To create local jobs that pay a livable wage To strengthen ties between the community and local business
8	What will the mercantile sell? Well…what does Stafford want?
9	Community-owned mercantile success stories Powell, Wyoming: (shares, competition) www.reddingpalm.com/news/business/past/2004041bus025.shtml Ely, Nevada: www.commondreams.org/headlines Glendive, Montana: www.twincities.com
10	We need YOU Retail start-up and planning support Community Relations Market Researcher Feasibility and Strategy Analysts Business Plan Developer Market Developer Product and Service Developer Development may be supported through the Coop Development Institute and the USDA