The website newrules.org lists these cities that offer preference to local businesses as a means to nurture small businesses and local economies. This is not impossible to do.
Local Purchasing Preferences – Albuquerque, New Mexico
The city provides a preference to local manufacturers, local businesses, resident manufacturers, and resident businesses. A local business is given up to a five percent credit in evaluating bids for goods and services.
Local Purchasing Preferences – Columbus, Ohio
Columbus gives a five percent preference if the government’s purchase is under $10,000, and a one percent preference if the purchase is over $10,000. The buy local preference credit is limited to $10,000.
Local Purchasing Preferences – Ketchikan, Alaska
Unless contrary to federal or state law or regulation, a contract or purchase for supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services the amount of which is less than $200,000 shall be awarded to a local bidder where the bid by such local bidder does not exceed the lowest responsible non-local bid by more than 10% for $100,000 or less, and 7% of the non-local bidder between $100,000 to $200,000.
The Virginia Department of General Services has a nice table of state purchasing preferences in a document titled, Listing of States’ Absolute and Percentage Preferences.