Buy local gains momentum.

• Position: TRENDS AND TRANSITIONS - Brief article

Many state procurement laws require that in-state or regional businesses be given preferences, which often allows bids to be slightly higher than their out-of-state competitors. In-state preference laws historically applied only to construction contracts. During these tough economic times, however, states are increasing the variety of in-state preference categories to local businesses that sell motor oil and fuel, cars, office supplies, tree seeds, milk and meat products, printing, casino services and lottery equipment, and to those that provide agricultural aircraft pilots, travel services, rodeo and livestock shows and much more.

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Wyoming, as well as Guam, provide one of the more recent preferences--for in-state or regional artists creating public displays of art. Unlike most other types of procurement law, in-state preference requirements for art are recommended, but not required. This is...