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This pilot program headquartered in Massachusetts provided funding to create formal partnerships, via signed agreement, in six communities, collaboratively joining municipal leaders, local councils, and cultural districts to join forces and deepen the commitment of arts and culture in communities. Their efforts work to strengthen relationships with those who support and create art in communities to maintain its longevity. I would look to this organization for how to forge strategic partnerships to inform targeted events in different neighborhoods throughout Seattle, as the demographics, rate of locals versus transplants, and predominant cultures varies between each.

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Cultural Compact Pilot Program Findings – Mass Cultural Council

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Through our Community Initiative, Mass Cultural Council works to support all 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Over the last two years, our Cultural Compact pilot program supported a new and innovative approach to elevating arts and culture in communities.

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British Columbia Farmers’ Markets Impact Toolkit

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British Columbia Farmers’ Markets Impact Toolkit

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“Farmers’ markets are a fixture in the community and strongly support community connections.  This is pretty important when you consider that our community connections, particularly in urban areas, show signs of weakness. A 2012 report by the Vancouver Foundation found that residents of Metro Vancouver do not connect with neighbors beyond learning their names and that many people are retreating from community life.[2]  Almost all of the 117 customers surveyed by the markets (97%) reported that they spend some, half, most, or all of their time talking to vendors, friends, and other acquaintances.”

This pilot program developed a toolkit for sustaining local farmers’ markets, piloting it at 9 locations across British Columbia. An element of their project focused specifically on the value they hold for its community. Knowing Seattle has a reputation for the “Seattle Freeze”, a cultural trait based on a trend of perceived standoffishness or cold nature amongst its locals toward strangers, this project actively counters those tendencies and demonstrates the value in building community connections and lowering that barrier to entry.

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In past posts you may have followed our research project with the BC Association of Farmers' Markets to develop a Farmers' Market Impact Toolkit.This toolkit was piloted with 9 farmers markets in the summer of 2012 in British Columbia (Canada) and a final version of the toolkit is posted here on our website.

Here are just some of the insights into the important value of farmers' markets in local communities based on the six markets that completed surveys with their stakeholders. This represents 117 customers, 84 vendors, 5 market managers and 18 external stakeholders.

While these data are not a statistically validated sample that can be used to extrapolate findings to farmers' markets generally, they do provide a glimpse of the dynamics and value at play in the growing farmers' market movement.

Farmers markets provide market development opportunities to a huge number of producers. The six pilot markets alone provide opportunities to 507 registered vendors, according to the market managers surveyed. While the majority of vendors provide farm products and fresh food (182), there are almost as many selling processed food (151).

Through surveys, markets received information from 84 vendors about the importance of various income sources. Two thirds of these vendors ranked farmers markets in their top 3 most important sales channels.

The data collected by the markets provide some insight into the limits to growth. On average only 23% of vendors (of the 18 who provided income data) wanted to produce more.

The toolkit complemented a study that same summer of how farmers markets impact the local economy by Dr. David Connell at the University of Northern British Columbia. His study estimated the economic impact of farmers markets across the province to be over $170 million, including $113 million in direct sales. The economic impact has increased by 147% relative to 2006.

Comox Valley Farmers' Market received data from 11 farm vendors that described both sales income and land use. Based on this limited data set, we calculated that on average, each dollar spent at the Comox market supports 3.75 m² of local agricultural land. For these 11 farm vendors, this accounts for 500 acres in 2013. (The total for the market would be much higher since they reported 62 registered vendors that sell farm fresh food).

While important, buying or consuming organic and sustainably produced food was not as important as buying locally, according to surveys of what customers value in purchased food.

From the toolkit pilots, we learned that farmers' markets are a fixture in the community and strongly support community connections. This is pretty important when you consider that our community connections, particularly in urban areas, show signs of weakness. A 2012 report by the Vancouver Foundation found that residents of Metro Vancouver do not connect with neighbours beyond learning their names and that many people are retreating from community life. Almost all of the 117 customers surveyed by the markets (97%) reported that they spend some, half, most, or all of their time talking to vendors, friends, and other acquaintances. The pilot data also suggest that markets appear to attract customers representing a range of ages and income levels.

Most customers are loyal and visit the market often, frequently or regularly (77%), and had been returning year after year - the majority had been shopping there for more than 3 years.

The toolkit includes many measures that provide insight into the operations and development of the market. Core management issues include financial sustainability, managing growth sustainably, and successfully matching demand with an adequate volume and range of products. A selection of measures is shown below and reflects data from 5 markets:

*Customers who agree or strongly agree with the statement 'I can reliably find what I am looking for'.

For more see the project reports under our website's DV Project Tab ( or just click here!)

P.S. What we didn't capture is the well being that comes from eating this pie!

Go to your local farmers' market for some good eating!!!

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The Value of Farmers' Markets in BC: What We Learned from the Toolkit Pilots

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In past posts you may have followed our research project with the BC Association of Farmers' Markets to develop a Farmers' Market Impact Toolkit.This toolkit was piloted with 9 farmers markets in the summer of 2012 in British Columbia (Canada) and a final version of the toolkit is posted here on our website.

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Do206 is a local initiative as part of a greater nationwide organization that promotes local arts and culture events, primarily a calendaring platform. They created a campaign called DoMORE that formed a membership-based community for a small fee of $5 per month, offering a set of event tickets each month based on curated interests submitted by each member. It fosters a sense of spontaneity and discovery to the activity, and takes the pressure off the individual to sift through a calendar of all the local events happening to find the one fit for them.

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Nope. We've worked with our ticket partners (major promoters, venue owners and performing artists) for over 11 years. They lean on us to help create buzz and drive fans to attend their events across the country.

What kind of tickets are included?

Think concerts, museums, sports, arts+culture, festivals - everything that is fun, cool, and uniquely local. We use profiles to handpick experiences for each person.

How do you match people to tickets?

When a DoMORE member signs up, we ask them what types of experiences they're interested in. We'll also ask about favorite artists, genres, and more.
When are tickets sent out?
We send out tickets when we match a person with a show or event. We'll always give at least 48 hours and we aim to give at least a week.
How do people know they've got a ticket hookup?
2 tickets are sent via email. At the venue, when a member shows a valid photo ID their name will be on the guest list!

What if the event isn't a match, or there is a scheduling conflict?

One of the coolest parts of DoMORE is that tickets are giftable.

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domore membership do more concerts events live shows music subscription membership tickets

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Nope. We've worked with our ticket partners (major promoters, venue owners and performing artists) for over 11 years. They lean on us to help create buzz and drive fans to attend their events across the country. What kind of tickets are included? Think concerts, museums, sports, arts+culture, festivals - everything that is fun, cool, and uniquely local.

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This collaborative effort of more than 13 local and national foundations champions a network of small business support focused in a region of Michigan. They are especially concerned with uplifting marginalized groups and form their development strategies through an inclusive lens. Investing in underserved small businesses can change the trajectory for struggling neighborhoods, build wealth among entrepreneurs of color and women, and make major shifts in the economy as it holistically benefits its citizens. I’d like to consider this organization on a consulting basis for how their tactics could be applied to the Seattle area.

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The importance of the network providing a variety of services - in an interrelated and connected fashion - is paramount to providing underserved small businesses with what they need to achieve success.

Also, building a small business is not a linear process, as it involves pivots, gains, setbacks, restarts and unexpected breaks. Therefore, small business owners need to mix and match to get what they need, when they need it, as they seek out practical assistance, capital/lending, information, and trust and connections.

In the end, access drives opportunity.

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Creating a robust network for small business support - New Economy Initiative

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The importance of the network providing a variety of services - in an interrelated and connected fashion - is paramount to providing underserved small businesses with what they need to achieve success. Also, building a small business is not a linear process, as it involves pivots, gains, setbacks, restarts and unexpected breaks.

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As mentioned above, Intentionalist is the strongest source I’ve found for community-focused work based in the Seattle area. They are tackling this issue in a number of ways, but a recent membership  initiative launched last year provides a mutually beneficial relationship between its users and the small business community. It’s a successful example of setting up and managing a scalable support network on a ongoing basis that will serve well as a model for how to sustain the internal promotion of a project like my own. The 10 principles they hold for this program are as follows:

1. Where we spend our money matters.

2. Exclusive monthly perks that will only get better.

3. Help keep Intentionalist free for small businesses and our users.

4. Intentionalist is your go-to resource for finding diverse owned businesses in your neighborhood.

5. The small businesses we love deserve partners they can trust.

6. Help Intentionalist continue to amplify the stories of your favorite small businesses.

7. #SpendLikeItMatters is one of your go-to hashtags.

8. Three words: Community-driven economy.

9. Two words: Economic justice.

10. Community is everything.

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We are excited to invite you to join Intentionalist's Membership Community.

Through the years, you have asked how you can more intentionally support Intentionalist and contribute to the much-needed wind in our #SpendLikeItMatters sails. Now you can, by joining Intentionalist's Membership Community!

We started Intentionalist because where we spend our money matters. We believe small businesses are the backbone of our local economies and the heart and soul of our communities.

Intentionalist closes the gap between our good intentions and our ability to easily take action and support the small businesses we love, one cup of coffee, one birthday card, one cupcake at a time.

Intentionalist's Membership Community is a group of like-minded intentional spenders who are excited to support and contribute to our growth and impact.

Here are 10 reasons to join Intentionalist's Membership Community:

1. Where we spend our money matters.

2. Exclusive monthly perks that will only get better.

3. Help keep Intentionalist free for small businesses and our users.

4. Intentionalist is your go-to resource for finding diverse owned businesses in your neighborhood.

5. The small businesses we love deserve partners they can trust.

6. Help Intentionalist continue to amplify the stories of your favorite small businesses.

7. #SpendLikeItMatters is one of your go-to hashtags.

8. Three words: Community-driven economy.

9. Two words: Economic justice.

10. Community is everything.

Intentionalist's mission to make it easier for all of us to #SpendLikeItMatters because our everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop shape the world around us. By joining our membership community you are supporting the work Intentionalist does every day for small businesses.

Whether you're drawn to our intentionally intersectional vision, are excited to connect with like-minded people, or want to ensure the diverse local businesses we love continue to have a place in our neighborhoods, join our membership community as part of your commitment to #BeIntentional.

We have structured the tiers to be equitable, with the understanding that different people have different capacities to chip in. Thank you for doing your part so that we can do ours.

Join our Intentionalist Membership Community today!

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We are excited to invite you to join Intentionalist's Membership Community . Through the years, you have asked how you can more intentionally support Intentionalist and contribute to the much-needed wind in our #SpendLikeItMatters sails. Now you can, by joining Intentionalist's Membership Community! We started Intentionalist because where we spend our money matters.

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Known as one of Seattle’s hyperlocal sources for culture and event information, the EverOut branch connects both Seattle and Portland communities with their recommended picks for things to do in the area. This media company has a strong following of a younger demographic and speaks with a notoriously unfiltered, playfully snarky personality. I think it would appeal well to my target audience for this project.

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EverOut Seattle - Events & Things to Do - EverOut

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Live music, drag shows, trivia nights, restaurants, and more things to do tonight, this weekend, next week, and beyond.

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Mary Bacarella, Executive Director at Pike Place Market PDA

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Mary Bacarella, Executive Director at Pike Place Market PDA

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“There are a lot of young people moving to Seattle. They want fresh, organic, sustainable products, whether it’s produce, meat or seafood. They want handmade, not commercial. So how do we break through all the communication clutter that’s out there and enforce the story that what you are looking for is right here and it always has been? It’s the mission and the vision of this market.”

While working for the PDA over the last year, I’ve grown to become more familiar with the operations that make a legacy institution like the Pike Place Market continue strong  for more than a century. Mary Bacarella, head of the Preservation Development Authority, shares her voice on a range of community organizations that have vested interests in preserving and growing local infrastructure mindfully while advocating on behalf of the small business network of more than 400 vendors. I look up to her both in informing my own job as well as considering the larger trajectory of the cultural and economic landscape in Seattle.

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The Pike Place Market Economy: It’s Capitalism! It’s Socialism! It’s Chaos! But Somehow It Works

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Its rules are bizarre and its organization is confusing, but quirky Pike Place Market continues to be central to Seattle’s identity.

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“Where we spend our money matters in terms of who survives and thrives in post-pandemic communities. We have seen companies increase their recognition and support of Main Street businesses, which is something that will have to continue in order for brick and mortar small businesses to survive.

From an institutional perspective more needs to be done to facilitate and support the recovery of small businesses, which must then be followed by inclusive growth and development policies.”

Laura Clise, head of Seattle-based organization Intentionalist has been a main root of inspiration for my consideration of this project from a localized perspective. A former executive in the field of corporate social responsibility among other roles, she brings a strong level of expertise to her work now pivoted in social entrepreneurship.

The Intentionalist’s core focus is driving dollars into the local economy through small business support, and its entire social media is centered on spotlighting these entrepreneurs and the powerful stories they hold. They also center their advisory board on a wide range of industry experts who can inform their practices and keep them grounded in their mission.