Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
BALLE is an international alliance of 28 independently operated local business networks with more than 4,500 members dedicated to building Local Living Economies.BALLE networks provw that a coordinated group of locally owned companies can stand up to some of the harmful effects of globalization and foster the health and vitality of a region. BALLE provides local networks with tools, business models and other resources, maintains an online marketplace of independent, community-based businesses, links Local Living Economies to share best practices, promotes Local Living Economies through media, public forums, and partnerships and develops pilot initiatives to strengthen Local Living Economies.
Campaign: Annual Conference: Creating Sustainable Communities June 8-10, 2006 Burlington, Vermont
Campaign: Local First: In Bellingham,WA, business leaders created a campaign to encourage citizens to buy from locally owned businesses whenever possible to keep money circulating within the community.
Campaign: Lobby for Renewable Energy and Healthcare: In Vermont, members of the network employ 8 percent of the state’s workforce and lobby for increased support for renewable energy and healthcare.
Campaign: Social Venture Institute: The Philadelphia network trains new social entrepreneurs in the business skills they need to be successful.
www.livingeconomies.org