Future Directions

Many thanks to everyone who took the survey providing guidance to CDLF on our future directions.  The Board of Directors will use these results when prioritizing the organization's upcoming activities.  If you have any comments or suggestions, please send them in via the contact page on this website.

The survey presented a number of current and potential CDLF activities and asked how highly respondents agreed that they would are important for CDLF to continue or undertake in the future.  Below are the results of the survey in order from the activities that received the most enthusiastic response to the least.  (The percentages on the y-axes indicated the fraction of respondents giving a particular answer to that question.)

At the end of the survey, there were two open-ended questions asking how CDLF could better assist businesses and engage the public.  Almost everyone responded to these questions by saying that CDLF should engage in more marketing/ outreach/ PR.  Many respondents also suggested that more networking activities would help local businesses.

Online Searchable Directory

We asked about developing an online directory of local businesses that would be searchable based on the products and services they offer.  Respondents indicated that this was the most important activity for CDLF to pursue.  We are partnering with an RPI-based startup company called AllForLocal in creating this directory.   CDLF members should contact us to get listed if you are not already.

Buy Local Bash

Buy Local Bashes are trade shows allowing local businesses to display their products and services and to celebrate the strength of the local economy.  These events have been well attended and garnered media attention.  Respondents felt that it's important for CDLF to continue hosting these.

Printed Directory

CDLF plans to continue printing directories of local businesses.  In the survey we asked about the importance of  growing the directory, in terms of production quality and copies printed.  Responses to this question were clearly positive.  Please contact us if you are interested in advertising in the next edition of the printed directory.

 Regional Steering Committees

CDLF has established regional steering committees, or "hubs," in Albany, Troy, Schenectady, and Saratoga in order to engage local businesses in each of the counties in the region through regular events and meetings in these cities.  Many hub members feel most connected to other businesses in their home cities and prefer to attend meetings closer to home.

Monthly Membership Meetings

At CDLF meetings we network, discuss upcoming activities, and hold panel discussions.  Some members felt that it's best to continue these meetings on a monthly basis, while others prefer monthly regional hub meetings augmented by several CDLF-wide events throughout the year.

 Business Practice Workshops

The survey noted that some local first groups have set up small groups of members who hold periodic workshops to discuss problems and seek peer advice on how to handle their business problems or issues, and some other groups bring in experts to speak on specific business practices.  The survey results showed mixed feelings about starting such activities at CDLF right now.  If we were to initiate workshops, respondents overwhelmingly wrote in that they'd like to learn more about marketing.  Business-plan-writing and networking were also mentioned as potential workshop topics.

Procurement Policies

In the survey, we floated the idea of working with local governments and large institutions to develop local procurement preference policies, as other local-first groups have done.  Response was mixed, perhaps indicating that our current business membership sees itself as oriented more toward retail rather than serving institutional customers.  If we were to undertake this activity, respondents overwhelmingly suggested approaching local schools and colleges.  Working with the New York State government was suggested by only a couple of respondents despite the fact that the capital city is within CDLF territory. 

 Guest Speakers

CDLF members and guests have learned a lot from previous guest speakers such as James Howard Kunstler, Stacy Mitchell, and Jeff Goodell.  The survey noted that attendance has been limited at some events and they can put a strain on CDLF resources.  When the survey asked if the speaker series should continue, responses were mixed.  If CDLF were to continue these events, potential invitees suggested by respondents included Tom Denham, Dean Skarlis, Richard Heinberg, and Susan Witt.  Respondents also wanted to learn about microenterprise funding, organic farming, and experiences from other local-first organizations.