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10/05/2010 - 4:30pm - 6:30pm
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10/05/2010 - 4:30pm - 6:30pm
SKALLY MANAGEMENT SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEM - TOUR ON OCT. 7
In September 2006 MetroIBA business member Skally Management had a solar thermal system installed at 622 Grand Ave to provide 75% of the hot water needs for the residents. It is
estimated 800 therms of natural gas will not be needed because of the solar thermal heat. Skally Management initially paid over $25,000 to have the system installed. However a special tax credit has been offered to businesses (and individuals) who install solar systems in 2006 and 2007, so the actual cost will be under $20,000. If gas prices continue to go up 7% a year (as they have averaged over the previous 30 years) Skally Management should recover their expenses in ten years.
estimated 800 therms of natural gas will not be needed because of the solar thermal heat. Skally Management initially paid over $25,000 to have the system installed. However a special tax credit has been offered to businesses (and individuals) who install solar systems in 2006 and 2007, so the actual cost will be under $20,000. If gas prices continue to go up 7% a year (as they have averaged over the previous 30 years) Skally Management should recover their expenses in ten years.
Keillor to open bookstore below cafe in St. Paul
Check out this news of a new bookstore, right below MetroIBA member Nina's Coffee Cafe in St. Paul.
By Mary Lynn Smith
Star-Tribune, Friday, September 15, 2006
A Garrison Keillor-owned bookstore below Nina's Coffee Cafe in St. Paul could be just the extra shot needed to turn the corner of Western and Selby into a national literary magnet, business owners and city leaders said Thursday.
For the full story, see--
http://www.startribune.com/384/story/676906.html»
"Art of Change" Exhibit Featuring Renee Lepreau's "Metro Moments"
Sat, 09/09/2006 - 7:00pm - Sun, 10/01/2006 - 12:00pm
Art of Change highlights the work of local photography artists interested in examining relevant social issues, suggesting positive change, and promoting community.
Featuring "Metro Moments," created for MetroIBA by Renee Lepreau.
Opens Saturday, September 9, 7 pm
Stevens Square Center for the Arts
1905 3rd Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(above the 3rd Avenue Market)
http://www.stevensarts.org/
»
Nature's Pace
"Most processes in the natural world--the decomposition of leaves, the growth of trees, the pollination of flowers--are slow by human standards. Even things that appear fast, such as falling rain, move slowly in the embrace of nature. The rainwater dripping down to the forest floor slowly soaks into the soil and gradually percolates down to the water table, recharging the soil aquifer. But what happens when humans replace forests with parking lots? In this case, the rainwater is not able to recharge the aquifer. Instead, it rushes across blacktop into culverts and then to streams. Hence, when rainwater moves too quickly, it is lost from the ecosystem, and soil aquifers fail to recharge.
Is Buying Local Always Best?
MetroIBA Members and Friends--
This article--
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0724/p13s02-lifo.html
--which appeared in the Christian Science Monitor the week of July 24, 2006, has caused a stir among our parent organization, the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), and its affliates. I find some of the author's arguments tenuous--we should buy food from developing countries because the farmer may have harvested it with a donkey rather than a high-tech, carbon-spewing tractor?--but it's always good to know what we're up against.
Stores Thinking Outside the Book
By Heidi Benson
San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, July 23, 2006
As independent bookstores scramble to compete with chain stores and online retailers, one small Marin County bookseller found a way to survive. He got rid of the books.
"The space was so small that people sitting in the cafe were practically on top of the bookshelves," said Gary Kleinman, who founded BookBeat in Fairfax in 1999. "You couldn't get to the books."
So, last fall, Kleiman jettisoned seven bookcases from the center of the cozy, wood-paneled shop--keeping those just along the walls--and gave most of the store's 4,000 books to charity.\
Mayor Proclaims July 1-7 as Independents Week in Saint Paul
Saint Paul (June 30, 2006)--Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman issued a proclamation today naming the week of July 1-7 as “Independents Week” in Saint Paul.
“Saint Paul’s locally owned independent businesses help preserve the uniqueness of the community and give us a sense of place,” Coleman proclaimed. “The health of Saint Paul’s economy depends on our support of businesses owned by our friends and neighbors.”
“Saint Paul’s locally owned independent businesses help preserve the uniqueness of the community and give us a sense of place,” Coleman proclaimed. “The health of Saint Paul’s economy depends on our support of businesses owned by our friends and neighbors.”
Coleman’s proclamation supports the efforts of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) and its affiliate, the Metro Independent Business Alliance (MetroIBA), to focus on the contributions of independent businesses to our communities and economy. MetroIBA is part of a growing national movement of communities rallying to support their independent businesses, take control of their local economies, and reverse the trend of chains and big boxes displacing locally owned businesses.
We Have a Winner!
Jon Novick of Fast and Furless in Saint Paul’s Macalester neighborhood is the winner of the “Wheel of Fortunate Small Businesses” game! With only the “E’s” showing, Jon correctly surmised the remainder of this inspiring quotation from the management guru Peter F. Drucker:
“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
(Well, that’s certainly true, isn’t it?) For his puzzle powers, Jon wins a free ad in the upcoming MetroIBA membership directory, the Passport.
“Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.”
(Well, that’s certainly true, isn’t it?) For his puzzle powers, Jon wins a free ad in the upcoming MetroIBA membership directory, the Passport.
A coalition of independent record stores hangs on for dear life
Spinsters
by Jim Walsh
City Pages, May 10, 2006
Like most of his comrades in the cat-eat-dog business of independent record stores, Dick Storms of The Record Archive in Rochester, New York, has a story to tell. As it happens, this one has ties to Minneapolis, which not only has historically been one of the nation's healthiest independent music towns, but has also spawned two corporate behemoths that have helped lay waste to businesses like The Record Archive.
For the full story, see--
AMIBA Unveils Independence Agenda
About a week or two ago, the American Independent Business Alliance, or AMIBA (MIBA is a member of this national network), released its Legislative Platform to Strengthen America's Independent Businesses. You can view the full platform here.
The platform includes national, state and local level policy issues, including:
- keeping the American Dream alive. For generations, starting a small business has been a key means by which families have pulled themselves out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.
- building strong communities. Studies show that small businesses contribute more of their revenue to charitable causes than big businesses.