In the News

'Think Boise First' Creates Video on Benefits of Buying Local

Alissa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:33:47 -0800

November 14, 2008 - The organization Think Boise First has just posted a video on YouTube promoting the goals and benefits of buying local goods and services. Think Boise First is a membership network of local, community-minded individuals and businesses commited to strengthening Boise, Idaho by supporting the benefits of buying local first.

The video is available for viewing here. — read more

BALLE Leaders Respond to the Financial Crisis

Alissa — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 10:44:41 -0800

October 10, 2008 - The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) reports that a number of the organization's thought leaders -- including Michael Shuman, David Korton, Leslie Christian and Judy Wicks -- have responded to the current financial crisis in the popular press.

These articles include: — read more

David Korten, "Main Street Before Wall Street," Yes! magazine, October 2008
Leslie Christian, "Finance to Serve the Economy," Yes! magazine, October 2008

Local Economies and Long-term Sustainability the Focus of Hawai'i Planning Conference

Alissa — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:37:55 -0700

September 25, 2008 - More than 300 professional planners, state and county workers, and other interested audience members gathered last week on Maui, Hawai'i for two days of talks focusing on "E Ola Pono," or "Planning Island Style." The Maui County Planning Department hosted this Hawai'i Conference of Planning Officials (HCPO).

Keynotes speakers discussed a range of necessary shifts to planning frameworks and economic development approaches if our nation -- including our local island economies -- are going to successfully weather globalization, peak oil and climate change. — read more

Kentucky Partnership Announces Forum on Growing Local Economies

Alissa — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:04:59 -0700

August 20, 2008 - The University of Kentucky Growing Local Economies Partnership announced today they will host a local planning forum on Wednesday, October 29. The Growing Local Economies Forum is billed as a "day of learning, dialogue and exploration about the promise of localized economic development in our Appalachian communities and the region." — read more

Wallace Center & TDC Select Innovative Local Food Enterprises

Alissa — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:18:06 -0700

August 1, 2008 - The Wallace Center at Winrock International, in partnership with the Training & Development Corporation (TDC), announced today their selection of ten U.S.-based local food enterprises to be profiled as part of Community Food Enterprise: Local Success in a Global Marketplace. The project is designed to highlight successful models of locally owned food enterprises from around the world. — read more

Small-Mart to Headline Canadian Public Employee Union's Annual Convention

Alissa — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:18:35 -0700

April 8, 2008 - The British Columbia division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced earlier this week that Michael Shuman will be the featured guest speaker at their 45th annual convention.

The event, hosted at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Vancouver, B.C., is focused on "Building Sustainable Communities."

Other guest speakers include CUPE National president Paul Moist, CUPE National secretary-treasurer Claude Généreux, Federal New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton, B.C. NDP leader Carole James and BC Federation of Labour president Jim Sinclair. — read more

Cleveland’s Free Times: We Laughed, We Cried, We Shopped Locally

Alissa — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:37:39 -0700

April 1, 2008 - How can we know if consumer behaviors like recycling are little more than feel-good tools for keeping the public from addressing a lack of environmental accountability at 'the top', asks the Cleveland Free Times reporter Jo Steigerwald?

Reach for a copy of The Small-Mart Revolution, she answers. — read more

Harrowsmith Country Life's 100-Mile Shopping Diet

Alissa — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:14:45 -0700

March 31, 2008 - According to Harrowsmith Country Life editor Tom Cruikshank, community economies based on local shops and industries were the norm only a few generations ago, and may again flourish.

Referencing The Small-Mart Revolution, the April 2008 issue of the Canadian magazine features Michael Shuman's localization ideas in the Editor's Note ("Greetings") and a special feature, "The 100-Mile Shopping Diet" by Marlene Bergsma. — read more

BALLE: Using the Power of Community to Green Small Business

Alissa — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:49:55 -0700

March 20, 2008 - Greenbiz.com's assistant editor Jonathan Bardelline spoke recently with Mary Rick, the program director of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies or BALLE.

Their radio interview about the present and future of local living economies is available online or for download as a podcast on the Greenbiz.com website. — read more

Michigan Town Boosts Support for Local Businesses

Alissa — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:07:36 -0700

March 17, 2008 - In Coopersville, Michigan, local businesses are gaining the cutting edge, according to an article in the Grand Rapids Press.

On February 13, members of the Coopersville City Council voted 6-0 to pass a new policy to support the purchase of local goods and services. — read more