Locally Owned Businesses Fuel a Movement

Originally posted in the Monadnock Shopper News

One hundred fifty four locally owned businesses fuel Monadnock Buy Local’s efforts. These businesses help spark a movement — one that calls upon each of us to “think local first” and choose to shift more of our spending from national chain stores to locally owned businesses. Together, we’re building a stronger community.

I love how the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies puts it, “[This movement] is about building communities that are more healthy and sustainable — backed by local economies that are stronger and more resilient. It means we use regional resources to meet our needs — reconnecting eaters with farmers, investors with entrepreneurs, and business owners with the communities and natural places on which they depend. It recognizes that not one of us can do it alone and that we’re all better off, when we’re all better off.”

This year, we plan to better promote the impacts of supporting locally owned businesses. Our main mantra comes from a Civic Economics report that found that locally owned businesses in our region return 4x more money to our local economy compared to chain retailers. The study also concluded that shifting just 10% of our purchases from national chains to locally owned retail businesses would keep $27 million in the regional economy — recirculating through the Monadnock Region to create new jobs, more charitable contributions and a better quality of life for more residents.

We also want to inspire more of you to think local first — and buy local, bank local, eat local, drink local and BE LOCAL! And we want to make it easier for you to find what you need at locally owned businesses. In turn, we want to encourage our 150 business members to adopt innovations that forward a local, green and fair economy.

Ideally, we hope to reframe what “value” means to us all — in terms of buying the goods and services we want and need. As the American Independent Business Alliance points out, “Of course, we usually choose to do business where we perceive the best value for our time and money. But in an age where we’re bombarded with thousands of corporate advertisements daily, perceptions may differ widely from reality. The unrelenting emphasis on cheapness above all other values, leads many people to overlook the values independent businesses provide us, both personally and in our communities.”

Thank you to our 154 members: retailers, service providers, chefs, farmers, artists, nonprofit leaders, friends and neighbors. Of those members, 22 have been members for all six years of Monadnock Buy Local’s existence: Cheshire Garden, Deep Roots Massage, Elm City Restaurant & Brewery, Hannah Grimes Center, Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Howard’s Leather, Jack Daniels Motor Inn, Keene Fresh Salad, The Keene Sentinel, Keene Sign Worx, Life is Sweet, Monadnock Shopper News, Monadnock Table Magazine, Northfield Drive-In, Peterborough Camera Shop, Picadilly Farm, Prime Roast Coffee, Savings Bank of Walpole, Ted’s Shoe & Sport, Toadstool Bookshops, Walpole Mountain View Winery and WiValley. A very big thank you to these businesses for their commitment to our mission.

We expect to release our 2015-2016 Monadnock Buy Local Guide, listing all of our members and more inspiration for thinking local first, by late July. Until then, we invite you to explore who our members are at http://monadnockbuylocal.wildapricot.org/Members.

And thank all of you for supporting locally owned businesses and Monadnock Buy Local. We look forward to many more years of contributing to a stronger local economy and more vibrant region.

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Are You Up for the Indie Challenge?

Originally posted in the Monadnock Shopper News

Thirty-eight dedicated Monadnock Region citizens have accepted the 2014 Indie Challenge.  Their mission: To fulfill all of their needs at locally owned and independent businesses during Independents Week, July 1 – 7, 2014.  Are you up for the Indie Challenge?  Read on to learn more.

While Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedom, Independents Week is a time to reflect on our inter-connectedness.  Monadnock Buy Local and other local business alliances throughout the nation are celebrating the positive impacts independent and locally owned businesses have on our communities.

We ask you to take some time next week to acknowledge each independent business owner’s spirit of entrepreneurism, individuality and character; the way they give back to our community with their time, talent, goods and services; and how their offerings fulfill your needs.  Show your appreciation and thank a locally owned business owner during Independents Week.

Taking the Indie Challenge, by making all your purchases at independents, is a great way to celebrate Independents Week. Sign on to the Indie Challenge today at monadnocklocal.org/indie-challenge or on Facebook.  We hope you’ll keep us posted on how it’s going.

If you get stumped, use our 2,414 Facebook Fans (and your friends and neighbors) to help you brainstorm possibilities at facebook.com/monadnockbuylocal.  Another great resource for finding independent businesses is our online directory, listing 258 locally owned businesses in the Monadnock Region.  You can search by business type, town or keywords to find what you’re looking for at monadnockbuylocal.wildapricot.org/Directory.

The Keene Downtown Group plans to celebrate Independents Week with us.  Stay tuned for how businesses on Main Street in Keene are marking the week!

Traveling during Independents Week?  Enjoy what locally owned businesses have to offer wherever you’re at.  Ask locals who their favorites are and look for networks like Monadnock Buy Local in the areas you’re visiting at amiba.net/about_ibas/find-iba and bealocalist.org/node/16/mid/36733.

Another fun way to celebrate Independents Week is to participate in local events sponsored by our locally owned businesses and the community.  Here are some ideas for each day of Independents Week:

Start off Independents Week at Orchard Hill Breadworks Pizza Night in Alstead on Tuesday July 1, 5 – 7 p.m.  You bring your own pizza toppings, drinks, picnic blanket, dinnerware and $7 per crust. Orchard Hill Breadworks provides the pizza crusts, cheese, and sauce and will cook your pizza in their new outdoor oven.  All profits for this night’s Pizza Night go to the South Acworth Village Store.  Call 603-835-7845 for more information.

On Wednesday, July 2 the Rindge Chamber of Commerce hosts their annual Family Festival and Fireworks at the common starting at 5 p.m. Fireworks start at 9 p.m. Visit rindgechamber.org for more details.

The fireworks continue on Thursday, July 3.  The Keene Swamp Bats offer fireworks at their game against North Adams at the Alumni Field in Keene. The game starts at 6:30 pm and the fireworks show follows: swampbats.com.

****IMPORTANT UPDATE FROM KEENE SWAMP BATS****

Due to the rain storm predicted to hit on Thursday night we are postponing the baseball game (will announce make up date later). The fireworks will be MOVED to Saturday night following our game against the Valley Blue Sox. All activities originally planned for Thursday night will now be held Saturday night.

A popular annual event for all ages is the 4 on the 4th Road Race in Keene on July 4th. Walk or run your way to the finish line while supporting a great non-profit, Pathways for Keene.  Register at tlaorg.org/pathways.  After a strenuous morning, relax under the stars at the Northfield Drive-In for a double feature movie.  See more at northfielddrivein.com.

On Saturday, July 5 at 10 a.m., Walpole Valley Farms invite you to a tour of their farm.  Discover how this amazing pasture-based farm works (Cost: $5; kids under 12 are free).  Learn more at walpolevalleyfarms.com/events.

The evening of July 5 comes alive with music.  Keene Music Festival’s Sumner Knight Series brings Ljova and The Kontraband to the chapel at the Woodland Cemetery from 7 to 9 p.m.  The suggested donation is $10 with all profits going towards the renovation of the Chapel. You can get a discount by bringing a canned good to donate to the local food pantry ($1 per can for up to three cans).   More at facebook.com/KeeneMusicFestival.  The Fitzwilliam Inn hosts Northern Stone from 8:30 to 11 p.m. ($5 cover) and starting at 9:30 p.m. at Harlow’s Pub in Peterborough the Ghost Dinner Band performs ($8 cover).  Check out monadnotes.com for more music events.

On Sunday, July 6 from 2 to 4 p.m., there’s an Ice Cream Social at the Sheridan House Museum in Ashuelot – a kick-off event for their 150th Anniversary of Covered Bridge #1.  Learn more at winchesternhhistoricalsociety.org.

Round out Independents Week with a round of dancing at the Monday Night Contra Dance on Monday, July 6, 8 p.m. to midnight at Heberton Hall in Keene (Cost is $3).  Visit monadnockfolk.org for more details.

“Independents Week is a time to reflect on the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating the nation’s locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their hometown’s future,” said Jennifer Rockne, from the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).

Let’s celebrate our independence and independents together!

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Ready, Set – Shift Your Shopping!

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

On November 1^st, Monadnock Buy Local launches its 2013 Shift Your Shopping Holiday Campaign, including our signature Plaid Friday Event – an antidote to Black Friday’s consumer buying frenzy.  We invite you to learn more, join the fun and spread the word!

Our goal is to encourage more of us to choose local & independent businesses for more of our holiday purchases.  Making the shift to local independents is one of the fastest ways to build a stronger local economy and create more jobs in our region.

How can you show your support for our Shift Your Shopping Campaign?

1.    Participate in our Plaid Friday Event

In our region, over 300 individuals participated in last year’s Plaid Friday Event, wearing plaid to show their support for our local economy and commitment to buying local this holiday season.  The day to wear plaid this year is Friday, November 29^th.

Wearing plaid, a fabric with unique colors woven together into a larger pattern, represents the many diverse independent businesses and organizations that together form the tapestry of a strong local economy.  It doesn’t matter what plaid you plan to wear — shirts, scarves, hats, socks, pants or, my favorite, all of them — get them ready for wearing on Plaid Friday.  (Have extras? Share them with friends and ask them to participate too.)

Over one dozen independent businesses will serve as Plaid Friday Hubs, taking photographs of people decked out in plaid for our Plaid Friday Collage.  Last year, we raffled off over $1,000 worth of items — donated by locally owned businesses — to thank Monadnock Buy Local fans, and we plan to do the same this year.  If you use Facebook, please RSVP to our Plaid Friday 2013 Event Page and share it with your connections.

Do you have an overly worn Plaid shirt or fabric that you’re willing to donate?  Monadnock Buy Local is collecting Plaid fabric to make into flags (for our Plaid Friday Hubs) and bags.  Please bring your fabric donations to the Monadnock Food Co-op at34 Cypress Street in Keene.  There’s a collection basket just past the registers.  And thank you!

2.   Support “Shift Your Shopping for Good” Days

New to Shift Your Shopping this year, independent businesses across the nation can participate in “Shift Your Shopping for Good” Days from November 30 – December 3, 2013. Actor Kevin Bacon recently pledged to help spread the word about this part of the campaign.  A number of locally owned businesses nationwide will donate a portion of purchases to a nonprofit when a customer mentions the phrase “Shift Your Shopping.” Details are still coming, so be sure to visit our website or Facebook Page for the latest details. If you’re an independent business owner, find out how you can participate in “Shift Your Shopping for Good” Days at www.shiftyourshopping.org/2013/charity.

3. Take the Shift Your Shopping Pledge

Lastly, but definitely not least, make your commitment to shift at least 10% of your holiday purchases from non-local businesses to locally owned businesses known — take the Shift Your Shopping Pledge.

Share your pledge on Facebook, Twitter or on whatever social media platforms you like to use.  Spread the word!

The Shift Your Shopping campaign, now in its third year, is a collaboration including Monadnock Buy Local, The American Independent Business Alliance, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, The Institute for Local Self-Reliance and 150 Local Business organizations representing over 40,000 local independent businesses across North America.  Learn more about the Shift Your Shopping Campaign at ShiftYourShopping.org.  We hope to see you in Plaid!

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A Place at the Table Update: In our August article, we highlighted the film “A Place at the Table” and its goal to inspire collective community action to address hunger, obesity and food policy — on both the local and national level.  If you missed the September event, or want to view this important film again (please bring friends!), come to the next community showing –sponsored by Monadnock Farm & Community Coalition — on Sunday, November 17, 1 p.m. at the Colonial Theatre in Keene.

The event includes State Senator Molly Kelly, who will moderate the event, a panel featuring local stories of making food more accessible and affordable and post-event round table discussions hosted by local groups working to address the issues of hunger in our area and strengthen our local food system and fresh, local snacks.  This event is free, but there is a suggested donation of canned food or fresh produce that will go to local food pantries.  Learn more and register at www.mfccoalition.org.

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It Starts With You!

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News (MBL Media Sponsor)

Mayor Kendall Lane proclaims July 1 – 7 Independents Week for the City of Keene.  What does that mean to you? As you celebrate America’s independence, take time to recognize and celebrate the independent and locally owned businesses throughout our region.  Recognize their spirit of entrepreneurism, individuality, uniqueness, and character, the ways they give back to community with their time, talent, goods and services and how their offerings fulfill our community’s needs.

Let’s also celebrate the independence of all of us: our ability to think and act independently and embrace our part in shaping the future of the Monadnock Region.  “Changing the way our economy operates starts with a single person,” states Michelle Long from the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies.  “It starts with you.”

Here’s one way to celebrate and flex your independence: Take the Indie Challenge! From July 1-7, try fulfilling all of your needs at locally owned and independent businesses.  Sign on to the Indie Challenge at monadnocklocal.org/indie-challenge.  Be sure to keep us posted on how it’s going – email us at monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.  If you get stumped, use our 1,919 Facebook Fans (and your friends and neighbors) to help you brainstorm possibilities at Facebook.com/MonadnockBuyLocal.

While you’re waiting for this year’s Monadnock Buy Local Guide, use our online Buy Local Directory to succeed in the Indie Challenge. Search by business type, town or keywords to sort through close to 200 independent enterprises at monadnockbuylocal.wildapricot.org/Directory.

Some great events and offerings are also happening during Independents Week.  Kids, ages 6-12, can create their own handmade storybooks or learn cartooning at Summer Art Camp at the Peterborough Art Academy, July 1 – 5.  See the entire Summer Art Camp schedule at peterboroughartacademy.com.

An event for all ages is the twelfth annual 4 on the 4^th Road Race in Keene on July 4th. Walk or run your way to the finish line while supporting a great non-profit, Pathways for Keene.  Register at http://www.tlaorg.org/pathways.

On July 7, Walpole Valley Farms will host a farm tour. Meet farmers Chris & Caitlin Caserta and their animals, and discover how this amazing pasture-based farm works. Enjoy a free bowl of Walpole Creamery ice cream at the end of tour.  Learn more at http://www.walpolevalleyfarms.com/events.

Another way to be an “Indie” and support your favorite independent businesses year-round is to become a citizen member of Monadnock Buy Local.  For $25, you’ll help us meet our mission and receive an “I Support Monadnock Buy Local” sticker to display proudly.  Become a Citizen Member at http://monadnocklocal.org/join-us or mail your check to MBL, 25 Roxbury Street – Suite B, Keene NH 03431.

“Independents Week is a time to reflect on the importance of economic democracy and community self-determination by celebrating the nation’s locally owned independent businesses and the stake each citizen has in shaping their hometown’s future,” said Jennifer Rockne, from the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).

Let’s celebrate our independence and independents together!

Monadnock Buy Local is a proud member of AMIBA, the organization behind Independents Week.  AMIBA is part of a growing national movement of communities rallying to support their independent businesses, take control of their local economies, and reverse the trend of chains and big boxes displacing locally-owned businesses: http://www.amiba.net.

Monadnock Buy Local is a network of locally-owned and independent businesses and organizations working together to encourage more people to “think local first” to help our communities & local economy grow: www.monadnocklocal.org.

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Thank you to the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy for offering this webinar – and the People’s Service Exchange, a timebanking program based in Antrim, for sharing their experience with us.

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BALLE & AMIBA Announce Launch of National Shift Your Shopping Campaign

38,000 Local Businesses and National Independent Business Advocates Launch “Shift Your Shopping”

Saturday, November 3 marks the launch of Shift Your Shopping, the second annual collaborative holiday campaign among advocates for local independent business. Shift Your Shopping encourages citizens and businesses to make a “shift” by buying from local independent businesses for the holiday season. More than 140 local business alliances across the U.S. and Canada, collectively representing more than 38,000 locally owned and independent businesses, are participating in the campaign.

ShiftYourShopping.org provides access to resources from multiple campaigns, including templates that allow anyone to spread the message easily in their community. All are welcome to use these tools to participate and make a direct impact where they live.

Shift Your Shopping is building a tradition that strengthens local economies, expands local employment, nurtures a sense of community, and provides a more relaxed, fun, and rewarding holiday shopping experience. The campaign offers a simple, powerful way to boost our economy and preserve and create jobs in our local communities.

Numerous studies quantifying the economic benefits of buying from local independent business have found impressive benefits. Just this month, Civic Economics released several new studies in individual cities, all of which showed locally-owned independent retailers returned three times or more money into their communities than chain competitors.

In addition, annual surveys over the last five years show that places that “go local” do better. For example, last year, the Institute for Local Self Reliance gathered data on annual revenue changes from 1768 independent business. That data revealed independent businesses in communities executing long-term “buy local and independent” campaigns run by grassroots groups averaged a strong 7.2 percent revenue increase over the previous year despite slow economic growth. This gain nearly tripled the 2.6 percent increase reported by independent businesses in areas lacking such campaigns.

Those “buy local” campaigns operated with support from the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and/or American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), co-sponsors of Shift Your Shopping.

Shift Your Shopping combines the efforts of BALLE and AMIBA with combined membership of more than 41,000 independent businesses. Grassroots groups Monadnock Buy Local, Local First Chicago, and the Louisville Independent Business Alliance will execute campaigns with their own flair, using Shift Your Shopping logos and templates as well as incorporating campaigns like Plaid Friday (a pro-local antidote to Black Friday) and using growing awareness of Small Business Saturday to further the shift.

“This is the third year our region will participate in Shift Your Shopping and the buzz gets louder and louder,” said Jen Risley, Program Manager of Monadnock Buy Local based in Keene, NH. “We are reaching more citizens and empowering us all to rethink our shopping habits and make our spending work for our local economy.”

“We can create jobs and build our economy, locally and nationally, by investing in our communities through small businesses, healthy farms, and community banks,” said Michelle Long, executive director of BALLE. “When you spend money locally during the holidays, you are investing in the economic well-being of your community, your neighbors, and your family.”

AMIBA co-founder Jeff Milchen said, “More than ever, people recognize economic recovery will be built from the grassroots up and we all have a role to play with each purchase we make. By going local, we’re helping our communities as well as treating ourselves and the people we give gifts to a more personal and high-quality experience.”

Shift Your Shopping kicks off November 3 and extends through the holiday season to December 31. See ShiftYourShopping.org for stories of pro-local campaigns, templates for easy customization, a list of participating organizations, and to add your organization.

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Nonprofits: Strengthening Businesses & Our Local Economy

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News (MBL Media Sponsor)

In the Monadnock Region, we are fortunate to have a number of large companies giving generously to the “small guy” and our community.  What we don’t always notice is that the reverse is true as well.  Our community has many small businesses and nonprofits offering services that enable both large & small businesses and our community to thrive.

In past articles, we featured how independent businesses support nonprofits.  We’re flipping that around in this article, focusing on how nonprofits support for-profit businesses and our local economy.

“Nonprofits are businesses that have been granted a special tax status by the IRS because they provide a public benefit and their profits support their mission,” shares Mary Ann Kristiansen Executive Director of the Hannah Grimes Center. “They provide jobs, require a solid business model, purchase goods, rent and own property and provide good and services.  They provide vital support and direct contributions to a thriving local economy and vibrant community.”

In New Hampshire, nonprofits contribute $9.1 billion dollars to the state’s economy, equaling 15% of our GDP. Nonprofits also provide one out of seven jobs in our state.  And, given our lean government, New Hampshire residents rely more heavily on nonprofits to provide the services that they need. {View more about nonprofits in New Hampshire.}

Businesses also rely on the nonprofit sector for services.  Specifically, they look to nonprofits to help improve their financial, environmental and social bottom lines.  In the Monadnock Region, one example of a nonprofit working to strengthen for-profit businesses is the Hannah Grimes Center in Keene.  Hannah Grimes offers a broad range of programs, from its Business Incubator Program to its lunchtime workshops, to start, grow and connect businesses.

One locally-owned business owner who receives direct support from the Hannah Grimes Center is local architect and Monadnock Buy Local (MBL) Member Michael Petrovick.  He is an associate of the Hannah Grimes Business Incubator, a business growth program that includes office space. “I can’t say enough about how important a role Hannah Grimes Center and the events hosted here have played in the immediate growth of my business,” says Mike. “I’ve gotten two new projects and some great opportunities for future work.  The time I’ve invested in attending Hannah Grimes events has clearly been time well spent.” Learn more at http://www.hannahgrimes.com.

Southwestern Community Services (SCS) serves as our second example of how one nonprofit supports a for-profit business.  SCS implemented a payroll deduction program, helping their employees become founding member-owners of the Monadnock Community Market Co-op, a cooperatively-owned food store opening in downtown Keene. This program made it possible for 31 SCS Staff Members to join the MCM Co-op, for a total investment of $6,800.

On a nationwide scale, Monadnock Buy Local gets guidance and inspiration from two nonprofits: the Business Alliance for Local Living Economy (BALLE) and the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA).  Both organizations offer resources, trainings and networking opportunities for independent business networks like MBL. Here’s a flavor of their offerings:  Last month, AMIBA hosted the “Building Prosperity from Within” Conference in Louisville, KY where attendees shared successes and best practices with each other. This month, BALLE offered a webinar called “Financing our Foodshed” that shared models of peer-to-peer local investing opportunities to connect local investors with local businesses.  Learn more about AMIBA at www.amiba.net and BALLE at www.livingeconomies.org.

Are you involved with a nonprofit that supports for-profit businesses, or do you own of a locally-owned business that benefits from the work of nonprofits?  Please share your story with Monadnock Buy Local: monadnockbuylocal@gmail.com.

Monadnock Buy Local is near the end of its 2012 Membership Drive.  Locally-owned businesses & nonprofits are invited to join before May 1, 2012 to be included in the 2012 Monadnock Buy Local Guide. Details are at http://monadnocklocal.org/join-us.

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Our Local Living Economy: Connecting the Dots

Originally published in the Monadnock Shopper News

What is a Local Living Economy? In November 2009, a group of 70 local entrepreneurs, community leaders, students and engaged citizens gathered at Keene State College’s Seventh Biennial Symposium “From Local to Global” to answer this question. The consensus: A Local Living Economy is a resilient system that improves our quality of life, meets everyone’s basic needs and creates an engaged citizenry.

With that definition agreed upon, we now move on to the next question: How do we cultivate a stronger Local Living Economy?  Judy Wicks, co-founder of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) and key participant in the November 2009 discussion, shared, “In order to build a local living economy, we must first determine what one looks like—what are the components, or building blocks, a vision of a local living economy that we can work toward achieving?”  The Hannah Grimes Center and Monadnock Buy Local, both members of BALLE, are working to identify the building blocks of our Monadnock Local Living Economy—and we invite you to participate.

One way to join the conversation is virtually.  Monadnock Buy Local is engaging its 1,200 online participants to help identify our region’s building blocks.  Each month, we will focus on a different Local Living Economy component, from agriculture to transportation, gleaning from you—the individuals, businesses and organizations currently engaged in this work.  Connect with the conversation on our website and Facebook Page.

Once information on each building block is collected, Keene State College Local Living Economy interns, working with the Hannah Grimes Center, will review what’s been gathered and look for patterns to help “connect the dots” in our region.  BALLE’s website states, “Rather than choosing one sector within which to work, BALLE networks recognize that sustainable local communities and economies are based on the systemic relationship between these building blocks. We don’t prioritize or isolate the importance of energy efficiency from investing in local energy production, or ‘green’ buildings from the health of their occupants, or the viability of local farms from the prosperity of the grocers to whom they sell.”

While Monadnock Buy Local focuses its work online, the Hannah Grimes Center is engaging community on the ground.  Antioch University New England student Libby Weiland is serving as Collaboration Coordinator for this project. She shares, “I am working to gather the best practices related to collaboration building.  My research will not only involve gleaning from the good work of groups collaborating in the area, but will also provide interested groups with the tools needed to create even stronger, lasting, and effective collaborative efforts.”

Together, we are looking at the system that drives our Local Living Economy. This type of holistic thinking takes work, but it can result in better problem solving leading to more positive and lasting changes in our community.  As scientist and systems thinker Peter Senge states, “Systems thinking is a discipline for seeing wholes. It is a framework for seeing interrelationships rather than things, for seeing patterns of change rather than static snapshots.  Fragmentation, competition, and reactiveness are not problems to be solved–they are frozen patterns of thought to be dissolved.”

For more information about the Monadnock Local Living Economy Project, contact the Hannah Grimes Center at 603-352-5063 or jen@hannahgrimes.com.

Monadnock Buy Local is a network of locally-owned and independent businesses, organizations and citizens working together to encourage more people to think “local first” to help our communities & local economy grow: http://monadnocklocal.com.

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Monadnock Buy Local Member-Only Special

Monadnock Buy Local wants to encourage all of our members to attend the Hannah Grimes CONNECT 2011 Event with Michael Shuman, one of the nation’s leading experts on community economics and Director for Research and Public Policy for the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE).  To make it more affordable, we are offering:

$10 OFF next year’s MBL Membership Renewal  
to any current members who attend CONNECT 2011

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MBL Joins BALLE

Monadnock Buy Local and the Hannah Grimes Center are very proud to announce that we’ve joined the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). We feel that with the support of BALLE our work will have more of a positive impact on our region – as well as on other local living economies throughout the nation.

BALLE’S Mission
(What We Do)
BALLE’s mission is to catalyze, strengthen and connect networks of locally owned independent businesses dedicated to building strong Local Living Economies.

BALLE’S Vision
(The World We Want)
Within a generation, we envision a global system of human-scale, interconnected Local Living Economies that function in harmony with local ecosystems, meet the basic needs of all people, support just and democratic societies, and fosters joyful community life.

BALLE’S Guiding Principle
(How We Do Our Work)
A Local Living Economy ensures that economic power resides locally to the greatest extent possible, sustaining vibrant, livable communities and healthy ecosystems in the process.

BALLE’S Mission

(What We Do)

BALLE’s mission is to catalyze, strengthen and connect networks of locally owned independent businesses dedicated to building strong Local Living Economies.

BALLE’S Vision

(The World We Want)

Within a generation, we envision a global system of human-scale, interconnected Local Living Economies that function in harmony with local ecosystems, meet the basic needs of all people, support just and democratic societies, and fosters joyful community life.

BALLE’S Guiding Principles

(How We Do Our Work)

A Local Living Economy ensures that economic power resides locally to the greatest extent possible, sustaining vibrant, livable communities and healthy ecosystems in the process.

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