New Reno-Sparks nonprofit offers database of locally-owned businesses
BY KARA LAPOINT • KLAPOINT@RGJ.COM • SEPTEMBER 7, 2010

As a third-generation Reno resident, Dave Asher is as local as they come, and proud of it.

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To be a true local, Asher says, one must shop local.

To grow the idea, Asher recently started his own nonprofit, LiveLocal RenoSparks. The nonprofit is dedicated to promoting local businesses and community sustainability, but Asher has an even bigger goal -- to change the shape of Reno's economy via a 10 percent shift in spending, from nonlocally owned businesses to locally owned businesses.

"I call it my local economic recovery program," Asher said.

The basis of that program is the website, which includes a directory and search engine for locally owned businesses, with subcategories for local franchises and "friends of local businesses."

"It's one thing to say 'buy local,'" Asher said. "But I'm the first one here to say, 'Who's local?'"

Asher has more than 2,800 locally owned businesses in his directory, which has been up and running since July 4.

Any business can list for free. The listing includes a link to the business's website and a Google map with its location. Businesses also can pay a fee to become members of LiveLocal RenoSparks' business co-op, which provides additional marketing tools and other benefits.

The website, which Asher maintains, also includes other resources and links related to community sustainability and the idea of local economic recovery through local business support.

Asher said he hopes the website will both educate consumers about local spending and be used as a resource. He also wants to provide a network for local businesses to support one another, he said. Asher witnessed first-hand the destruction of local businesses as a former owner of a local advertising agency.

"I was really motivated by all the business closures," he said. "It just drove me crazy."

Asher started to research the movement and came across an organization called the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies. BALLE is a national network of more than 30,000 socially responsible, independent businesses across the U.S. and Canada.

Asher became a member, representing the Reno-Sparks-Carson-Tahoe region. But, while LiveLocal RenoSparks is associated with BALLE, Asher said his nonprofit is unique in that it offers free listings in its directory.

"I believe you have to support all local companies in order to make a change," Asher said. "Not just members."

The change Asher seeks is what he calls the "10 percent shift" is based on a national movement.

"Each dollar spent at locally owned businesses re-circulates two to four times in our community," Asher said.

Asher said that such a shift could result in an additional $400 million per year circulating locally instead of leaving the state.

"We're only talking about money that is already going to be spent," Asher said. "Yes, Starbucks has great coffee, and we're not trying to take that away from them. But one time out of 10, go to a local shop to support them. ... You're already going to spend the money, just shift where it is spent."