In June, the Southeastern Alliance (SEA) marked its first year of educating consumers and advocating on behalf of local independent businesses in our region. Much of our first year was consumed with organizational tasks associated with launching this exciting new group.  We formed a steering committee, hammered out membership criteria, applied for and received a grant, and created a membership brochure and a website to help us recruit new members. Still, we did find time to do the really important (and fun) stuff that is our mission. SEA members testified at public hearings and in front of the legislature in support of local independent businesses. This is why we exist.

SEA is now poised to do even more advocacy and consumer education in the year ahead. I plan to begin more regular blogging, so watch this space for plenty of thoughts on building a sustainable local economy. We’ll have some ideas  and perhaps even some discussions on ways to keep our local economy strong. We want to hear from you, our friends and neighbors, about ways to keep our community a fun and interesting place to live and visit.

So don’t be shy–dive into the discussions, come to a meeting, and join us.

The Southeastern Alliance (SEA) will host a celebration to kick off a community-wide outreach initiative to raise public awareness of the superior overall values offered by southeastern Connecticut’s local independent businesses. The celebration will be held on Monday, June 21st from 5 pm – 7 pm at Cottrell’s Brewery, 100 Mechanic Street, Pawcatuck. Get directions here. Light refreshments will be provided by local vendors and Craig Edwards will entertain. The event is free and open to the public.

SEA was launched in June of 2009 with a goal of preserving the vibrant, distinctive community we enjoy along the southeastern coastline of Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island. SEA promotes a healthy and diverse local business climate through education, advocacy, and collaborative publicity.  SEA’s principal function is to educate our communities about the value of choosing locally owned and independent businesses first.

Please join us on June 21st, as we begin, in earnest, a campaign to unite the community in our mission to preserve all that is fun and unique in our area, making this the best place on the planet to live.

The next Southeastern Alliance (SEA) meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 19th at 5 p.m. at Cottrell’s Brewing Co., 100 Mechanic Street in Pawcatuck. Get directions here.

Our brochure is finished and ready to hit the streets. We also have a first anniversary celebration in the works and we need some help with the details. It’s hard to believe it’s been one whole year since we began spreading the word throughout the community about the many benefits to thinking locally. We’ve made some good progress but we have so much more to do. Come on down and lend a hand. It does a community good!

I just got my hands on the brand-spankin’ new Directory 2009-2010 of New London Local First, and it’s a beauty! Congratulations to our friends to the west; their first publication is terrific. Be sure to pick one up the next time you’re in New London.

And while you’re visiting New London, make sure to pick up a New London $hares card. The card will get you some fantastic discounts at some great local independent businesses, and help keep the hip little town of New London a unique and fun place to visit.

The next Southeastern Alliance (SEA) meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21st at 5 p.m. at Bank Square Books in downtown Mystic. Get directions here. Our brochure is in the works, and it’s a beauty! We’re also planning a spring thing for June, and we’re working on some joint advertising opportunities for members.

Stop by and meet your neighbors. Help us spread the word about the many benefits of doing business locally. As always, we’ll keep the meeting short and sweet!

The next Southeastern Alliance (SEA) meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 17th at 5 p.m. at Bank Square Books in downtown Mystic. Get directions here. Our membership is growing, and we have many exciting plans in the works, including a kickoff event this spring, a new brochure, and our first group advertisement in The Day. Help us make each of these a success.

Our meeting will be short, so you can make it to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration in plenty of time.

The next Southeastern Alliance (SEA) meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 17th at 5 p.m. at Bank Square Books in downtown Mystic. Get directions here. We have many exciting plans in the works, so please plan to attend and learn more.

The word on Perkins Farm is that the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 3-2 late last night to reject the text of the zoning amendment.

The fourth, and presumably final continuation of public hearings on a proposed zoning change to allow commercial  development of Perkins Farm will be held on Tuesday, January 19th at 7:15 pm at the Mystic Middle School.

An article in today’s issue of The Day reports,

The town’s planning staff has told the Stonington Planning and Zoning Commission that it should give little weight to the master plan presented by developer David Lattizori for the Perkins Farm property and the extensive comments that the public has made about it.

Rather, planners feel the Commission should focus solely on the wording of the proposed zoning change, as that is the only question before them at this time.

If anyone can tell me why the town should go to the trouble of changing existing zoning regulations without considering what may happen as a result, please let me know in the comments.

It’s no surprise to learn that a recent survey of retailers shows that communities with active “Buy Local” campaigns fared better in the 2009 holiday season than others.

Last year at this time, we learned that local independent businesses did better as a group than national retailers.  This was also the case in 2008, so it’s starting to feel like a trend. It’s a positive indication that our own efforts to raise awareness among local consumers of the benefits to shopping at local independent retailers will pay off.  When you also consider today’s local news it gives us real hope that our area can pull out of this recession stronger than ever.