diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 6685630..5dc4aca 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -8,7 +8,24 @@ This is the repository for the NSLS-II Facility API codebase.
 
 ## Developer Notes 
 
+In order to develop locally you will need to have a local MongoDB running.  
+This can be installed using your preferred method, a native install or running a container work perfectly fine.
 
+Once you have MongoDB up and running you then need to 'seed' the facility and beamline information that 
+does not get pulled from any other source.  The json files for the collections can be found at `/nsls2/software/dssi/nsls2core`
+
+1. Copy the `beamlines.json` and `facilities.json` to your development machine
+
+2. Import facility information into the local mongodb  
+`mongoimport --db=nsls2core-development --collection=facilities --file=nsls2core.facilities.json`
+3. Import beamline information into the local mongodb  
+`mongoimport --db=nsls2core-development --collection=beamlines --file=nsls2core.beamlines.json`
+
+You will then need to create a `.env` file that contains the configuration (an example can also be found in the same 
+directory as the json files).
+
+1. Copy `/nsls2/software/dssi/nsls2core/.env.development` to your local machine
+2. Rename to `.env` and place in the `src/nsls2api` directory in your cloned repo (in the same folder as `main.py`)
 
 ### Updating Dependencies