Michigan Independent Business Alliance Quickly Makes a Name for Itself

When Bridget Rothenberger opened Nomad Bookhouse in historic downtown Jackson, Michigan, in December 2005, the bookstore was the only retail outlet on the street. But things are changing, Rothenberger said. The downtown area is starting to grow, and the once manufacturing town is taking a decidedly artistic turn. "Another coffee shop has opened here now, a couple of retail outlets have come in," she reported. The changes occurring in Jackson have also spurred the formation of another organization: Jackson (JXN) Local First, which Rothenberger was instrumental in launching this year.

The localism movement "has been an interest of mine even before opening a bookstore," Rothenberger told BTW. "Once I opened the store, I realized that booksellers seem to spearhead these Local First movements." However, Rothenberger didn't start organizing an alliance right away, because her plate was already full. In addition to starting her new business, she had been elected to serve on the Board of Jackson's Midtown Association, which encourages "the growth and success of downtown Jackson."

It was fall 2007 when Rothenberger started kicking around the idea for JXN Local First with four other independent business owners. The impetus to finally get a local alliance off the ground was spurred, in part, by threats of a "lifestyle center" (a prefabricated downtown area) being built out by the expressway. "Jackson has two malls already ... and the developer got the green light this year to build the lifestyle center ... but it stalled," she said. In addition, chains have threatened downtown businesses for years.

"We had some meetings in early 2008," Rothenberger said, and on March 1, JXN Local First, encompassing locally owned businesses in Jackson County, became official.

With Jackson's downtown now showing signs of growth, local lawmakers are taking note, Rothenberger said, and it helps that JXN Local First is there to drive home the message that independents give back more to the local economy than do chains. "For me this is as much political as anything," she added.

Though in its formative stages, JXN Local First has been busy and it's managed to garner a great deal of local media attention. In June, the group invited Jeff Milchen of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) to speak at the Armory Arts Village, known as the "Art Incubator," an historic prison that was turned into a living/working space for artists.

JXN Local First's "big kick-off," as Rothenberger described it, occurred during this year's AMIBA-sponsored national celebration of Independents Week (July 1 - 7). JXN Local First held three events during the week: a Meet the Farmers Day at a local market; free local wine and chocolate at a membership drive, and a booth at Jackson's fireworks show.

Rothenberger called the IndieBound Literary Liberation Box's arrival in the store in June "perfect timing." Nomad, which hosted the wine-and-chocolate membership drive, was able to put the IndieBound materials right to good use. "We put the banner in the window," she added.

Though only four months old, JXN Local First has managed to quickly make a name for itself. "It's been unbelievable, the number of articles," she said, adding that the group's launch has brought the topic of Shop Local to the fore. "Some people are equating it with Buy American, too." --David Grogan