Mile High Biz Blog

Welcome to the Mile High Business Alliance blog, where we share the latest news and resources from the local business community and other stuff related to local business and building a stronger local economy.

Please feel free to post comments (you'll have to register or login first) or send us links to more news we can share.

[Video] Make the Shift: Bank Local Campaign by Go Local Sonoma County

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Thu, 05/20/2010 - 10:43pm

Video interviews with Community First Credit Union's David Williams, Summit State Bank's Thomas Duryea, Sonoma State's Robert Eyler and many others who explain the virtues of choosing local first, especially local banks and credit unions.

Produced by TV50 with support from Summit State Bank and Community First Credit Union.

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5 Ways Small Businesses Can Use Tech to Save Money

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Wed, 05/19/2010 - 4:26pm

May 16, 2010
by Jolie O'Dell

This post originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum, where Mashable regularly contributes articles about leveraging social media and technology in small business.

It goes without saying that small business owners are always looking for ways to save money. And technology is a great way to do just that.

By its very nature, technology is intended to make complicated things simple and expensive things affordable. Think about sending a bill to a customer; back in the day, it took paper, correction fluid, a stamp and a trip to the mailbox to accomplish this task. These days, it can be as quick and cheap as sending an e-mail.

Here are five easy ways small businesses can save money using technology.

[Video] Growing Slow Money

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Mon, 05/10/2010 - 7:33pm

Mickki & I stumbled across this adorable video illustrating the importance of Slow Money. Kudos to Woody Tasch for getting the ball rolling on this crucial movement.

Itchin' for more info on Slow Money? Check out www.slowmoneyalliance.org/

Podcast: Creating Local Energy Markets

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Thu, 05/06/2010 - 8:22pm

--Download KUNM Podcast here--

Commentary Compliments of LocalEnergyNews.org

One of the greatest myths of our time is that renewable energy isn’t quite ready to compete with so-called “conventional” sources of energy. More research is needed, we are told, because renewables are still too expensive. So onward we march, powering our homes with coal and filling our gas tanks with imported go-juice, all the while shipping bagfuls of cash out of our communities to pay for it.

Green & Localize Your Energy: Sign up for Windsource®

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Tue, 05/04/2010 - 9:05pm

Why Local Energy?

Ten cents on the local dollar of the community goes directly to pay for fuel. In the case of Colorado, much of this is imported. e.g. Coal from Wyoming.

Only between ten and fifteen cents on the dollar spent on that fuel stays in the local community.

Locally-produced energy is often more diversified in both fuel source as well as in location. Much strength lies in having diversity within a system. Therefore, having 50 different locations producing electricity to the grid via solar panels on their roofs is significantly more resilient than having a single coal-fired power plant.

What Can I Do?

Support localization by going local! Open lines of communication with your energy provider and look for opportunities to improve energy efficiency, generate energy on-site, and offset your current usage. Currently, we've joined the Denver Energy Challenge to help individuals and businesses sign up with Windsource, a program with Xcel Energy focused on locally-generated renewable energy. Not only do you get to localize your energy, if you sign up now with the Denver Energy Challenge, Xcel Energy will also donate up to $125,000 to energy education projects at Denver public high schools. (read more about helping DPS)

How To Find a Local Bank: Tips & Tricks

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Thu, 04/29/2010 - 9:50pm

How To Find a Local Bank: Tips & Tricks

By: Solari

A. Identify Local Banks

1. Get the list of the banks and credit unions in your area from your local Yellow Pages. Delete names that you know to be large banks, including names on the Solari US Banking Tapeworm 20 List.

2. Visit your local Chamber of Commerce and ask them for a list of all banks in your area -- ask them to identify which only operate locally and/or regionally and which are owned locally or regionally, or, if credit unions, controlled locally.

A local bank is a bank that operates within your local area and is primarily owned or controlled by people who live within or near your local area.

A regional bank is one that operates in your state and a few other states and is owned and/or controlled by people based in those states.

Participate in the Eat Local First Dining Guide

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Wed, 04/28/2010 - 8:43pm

Scrumptious soup made from locally-sourced ingredients.
Photo credits: Dawn Yukus

The Eat Local First Dining Guide is a new resource to connect neighbors with unique dining establishments that embody “Local Flavor.” The locally owned restaurants, cafes & markets featured in the guide are not only led by our neighbors, but are committed to sourcing their own produce, meats & products from local sources.

A new initative of the Mile High Business Alliance, under the umbrella of the "Eat Local First" campaign, the Local First Dining Guide will follow the same straight-forward format as the neighborhood Local Flavor Guides, effectively introducing neighbors and tourists alike to local food-focused enterprises.

National "Sustainable" Offshore Aquaculture Act

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Tue, 04/27/2010 - 7:59pm

Community & Local Business Concerns Regarding the National Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2009

(HR 4363 – Capps (D-CA)

While this bill ostensibly creates “sustainable” fishery production, in reality it weakens our environment as well as our economies. The Mile High Business Alliance views this proposed bill as an outsourcing of our nation's wealth in combination with the support of large corporations – in effect, funneling our economic opportunities and prosperity out of our local communities.

Tips for Selling Art Through Local Retailers

Submitted by Mickki Langston on Mon, 04/26/2010 - 11:25pm

At last week's Art Market event, we heard from the dedicated entrepreneurs of Indy Ink, Fancy Tiger, Caboodle and Artwork Network about selling local art in local shops.

The discussion was thoughful and informative for both artists and retailers, so we'd like to share some of the gems we learned.

Know the shop, their audience & protocol prior to approaching the buyer. Demonstrating that you understand their store and showing how your art fits into their shop not only builds your credibility, but also saves everyone time. Call or email the shop in advance, asking who their buyer is and how they like to be approached. Then of course, listen to their response and follow their protocol.

The Sound of Colorado Music + Selling Your Local Music

Submitted by Dawn Yukus on Fri, 04/23/2010 - 8:51pm

The Sound of Colorado Music

By Paul Epstein of Twist & Shout

So you have probably noticed that our local section is now called Colorado Music and that it is about two or three times bigger than it was a month ago. We decided that we should stop treating this section like a musical ghetto and start treating it like the most important section in the store, which it really is.

Thanks to our Founding Members

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Latest Blog Posts

Upcoming Webinar on Sustainable Capital

Posted: 09/01/2010 - 9:49pm

This week MHBA hosted our Buzz Box on financing and capital options for small businesses. We were joined by Rob Smith of RMMFI, a local micro-finance organization doing great work with...

Upcoming MHBA Events

Buy Local Week - Merchants Info Meeting

09/14/2010 - 9:00am

Alternative Currencies Workshop & Practicum

09/18/2010 - 9:00am

Local Biz Coffee Meeting

09/28/2010 - 8:30am