AG 2011 12 19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft 1.1 -- Not for Distribution or Circulation Oregon —same cost and same quality. Would you make the substitution ?" If the deal were done, the Marketplace got a finder's fee from the Oregon cloth manufacturer. The Oregon Marketplace came close to covering its administrative costs but never quite got there – but this occurred in a largely pre - internet era. With a well designed software package, this concept could become a viable means of promoting regional purchasing. B2G Midwife – About one of every four dollars in the United States is spent by a procurement agent (federal, state, county, or local). Because these purchasing agents favor bulk purchasing, they tend favor bigger corporate suppliers. Why mess around with hundreds of local farmers to provide foodstuffs for a school lunch program when you can enter a single contract with Sysco? But there's no reason why a community could not create a "middle person" who would consolidate local businesses into a collective bid, facilitate aggregation of delivery, and take responsibility for all the paperwork—in exchange for a finder's fee. Farm -to- school programs show the viability of these programs, though few have run professionally or profitably yet. A second category in which meta - businesses are promising is in local business partnerships, where collective action can improve the cash flow for a group of participating businesses. In each of the following examples, the valuable business service provided by the meta - business could be covered by participating businesses through an annual fee or per -use charge: Procurement Cooperative Because bulk purchasing brings down costs, a local business network engaged in collective purchasing could improve the competitiveness of its members. Tucson Originals, for example, services its member food businesses by purchasing in bulk foodstuffs, kitchen equipment, and dishes. The DC -based BALLE network, run by the Latino Economic Development Corporation, collective buys cheap "green power" for its members. Collective purchase of health insurance on the emerging national exchanges is another possibility. • Local Business Mall A local business network could take the lead in creating a small- business mall like Pike's Place in Seattle which has served as a tremendous anchor for tourists and regional consumers. The network would essentially become a commercial developer. Alternatively, it could hire a commercial developer with expertise in local- business malls. For small towns, this could also translate into a targeted effort by a group of businesses to reclaim, revitalize, and even repurchase the downtown area. Direct Delivery – To compete with the convenience of shopping malls or mail - order services, a local business alliance could set up a direct delivery service, as is being done right now in Edmonton, Canada. Amazon says they can get consumers a book in 24 hoursa local delivery service should be able to do so in 24 minutes. This would be especially welcome by consumers who are single 37 Attachment number 1 1 -4 Page 339