Is This the New Normal?
To the Editor:
We are a small business in La Grange. For the past three years we lived in our hometown working to create a sustainable business model that helped support rural small businesses, creators, and organizations so they can prosper and stay here. In Fall, of 2019 we found this model via a fundraising platform to help farmers, creatives and NPOs work together to fundraise using local products. We piloted a program and helped three local nonprofits and nine creators move product and raise money for their organization.
Preparing to grow our business, in November of 2019 we applied for a grant via the La Grange Economic Development office. We completed 31 pages of business plans, strategy, business models, financials, partner descriptions, job opportunities, and more. We asked for support to expand our fundraising impact and create a space for farmers and other creatives to come together to sell their products and services. We were not approved for any funds or collaborations. We were OK with that.
We kept moving and continued working on the plans. We signed a lease last week for a property to showcase area farm producers and other creatives.
This week, we learned the local city government has decided to create another revenue stream and do the exact same thing we proposed using what we thought were confidential documents. The La Grange Community And Economic Development Department straight up stole our idea and business model and began trying to implement it. How do these leaders even think this is OK? I understand competing with other businesses, but are we now having to compete with government?
What are we supposed to do next? This just doesn’t feel right for us and the rest of the small businesses in our community.
How would a restaurant feel if our City started purchasing food trucks and selling food in the Casino Hall parking lot?
How would retail shops feel if our city government started printing and selling shirts and caps?
What if our government decided they wanted to “help” the community and start creating revenue streams to help fix cars, mow grass, or build homes?
How would an event center feel if they rented event space? Oh, they already do that.
Starting a business and staying relevant in a rural community is tough. Do we really need government to be our competition?
Is this normal? Who can help fix this? Or is this what our government considers to be our new normal?
Brandon Schielack La Grange
La Grange