The Big Box Evaluator

is a new tool from the Orton Family Foundation. From the website:

This on-line tool is designed to be an unbiased information resource for citizens and government officials who want to know more about “big box” retail stores and their potential positive and negative impacts on the local community.

This free resource gives you a way to think about how big box stores may affect a community’s economics, environment and community character. The interactive format lets you learn basic facts, test assumptions, explore interactive models and draw your own conclusions.

If a big box store is being proposed for your community, we encourage you to think about how the general examples here may relate to the specifics of your town or place.