Business Alliance for Local Living Economies

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is a growing North American alliance of nearly 60 fully autonomous local business networks with their own names, missions, and initiatives, representing about 20,000 US and Canadian entrepreneurs. All networks share a commitment to Living Economy principles. BALLE works to catalyze, strengthen and connect these local business networks dedicated to building Local Living Economies. A Local Living Economy ensures that economic power resides locally, sustaining healthy community life and natural life, as well as long-term economic viability.

BALLE envisions a sustainable global economy made up of local living economies that build long-term economic empowerment and prosperity through local business ownership, economic justice, cultural diversity, and environmental stewardship.

BALLE's building blocks include:
*Sustainable agriculture
*Renewable energy
*Zero waste manufacturing
*Independent retail
*Green building
* [http://www.livingeconomies.org/entrepreneurs/community-capital Community capital]

Principles

A local living economy ensures that economic power resides locally, sustaining healthy community life and natural life as well as long-term economic viability.

A living economy is guided by the following principles:

* Living economy communities produce and exchange locally as many products needed by their citizens as they reasonably can, while reaching out to other communities to trade in those products they cannot reasonably produce at home. These communities value their unique character and encourage cultural exchange and cooperation.
* Living economy public policies support decentralized ownership of businesses and farms, fair wages, taxes, and budget allocations, trade policies benefiting local economies, and stewardship of the natural environment.
* Living economy consumers appreciate the benefits of buying from living economy businesses and, if necessary, are willing to pay a price premium to secure those personal and community benefits.
* Living economy investors value businesses that are community stewards and as such accept a "living return" on their financial investments rather than a maximum return, recognizing the value derived from enjoying a healthy and vibrant community and sustainable global economy.
* Living economy media provide sources of news independent of corporate control, so that citizens can make informed decisions in the best interests of their communities and natural environment.
* Living economy businesses are primarily independent and locally owned, and value the needs and interests of all stakeholders, while building long-term profitability.

Living economy businesses strive to:

* Source products from businesses with similar values, with a preference for local procurement
* Provide employees a healthy workplace with meaningful living-wage jobs
* Offer customers personal service and useful safe, quality products
* Work with suppliers to establish a fair exchange
* Cooperate with other businesses in ways that balance their self-interest with their obligation to the community and future generations
* Use their business practices to support an inclusive and healthy community, and to protect our natural environment
* Yield a "living return" to owners and investors

Practices

Members of local BALLE networks have a direct stake in the future of their communities and bioregions and include local business owners, non-profit leaders, government representatives, and engaged citizens.Members of Local Networks work together to:

* Support the growth and development of community-based business
* Encourage local purchasing by consumers and businesses
* Create opportunities for business leaders to network and share best practices
* Advocate public policies that strengthen independent local businesses and farms, promote economic equity, and protect the environment

To support Local Networks, BALLE:

* Provides Local Networks with tools, business models, and other resources
* Links Local Living Economies to share best practices
* Promotes Local Living Economies through media, public forums, and partnerships
* Develops pilot initiatives to strengthen Local Living Economies

External links

[http://www.livingeconomies.org BALLE's Homepage]

Arizona

* [http://www.localfirstaz.com/ Local First Arizon - Phoenix and Tucson]

Massachusetts

* [http://www.pvlocalfirst.org/ Pioneer Valley Local First (BALLE) - Network Western Massachusetts]

Washington

* [http://www.balleseattle.org/ BALLE Seattle - Seattle, Washington]

British Columbia

* [http://www.vbnetwork.ca/ Victoria and Vancouver Island - Values-Based Business Network]

California

* [http://www.downtownberkeley.org/ Berkeley - Berkeley Business District Network]
* [http://www.sustainablebiz.org/ East Bay - Sustainable Business Alliance]
* [http://www.ournapavalley.com/web/ballenapavalley/ Napa Valley - BALLE Napa Valley]
* [http://www.omlf.org/ Oakland - Oakland Merchants Leadership Forum]
* [http://www.sanbenitocountychamber.com/ San Benito County - San Benito Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.sfloma.org/ San Francisco - SF Locally Owned Merchants Alliance]
* [http://www.thinklocalsantacruz.org/ Santa Cruz County - Think Local First Santa Cruz County]
* [http://www.sbcouncil.org/ Sierra Nevada - Sierra Business Council]
* [http://www.livabilityproject.org/balle-sc Sonoma County - BALLE Sonoma County]
* [http://www.pointreyes.org/index.html West Marin - Think Local First West Marin]
* [http://www.willits.org/ Willits - Willits Chamber of Commerce]

Colorado

* [http://www.boulder-iba.org/ Boulder - Boulder Independent Business Alliance]
* [http://www.milehighbusinessalliance.org/ Denver - Mile-High Business Alliance]
* [http://laplatalocal.org/ Durango - La Plata Organizations Cooperatively Advocating Local (LOCAL)]
* [http://www.longmontsba.org/ Longmont - Longmont Small Business Association]
* [http://www.belocalnc.org/ Fort Collins - Be Local Northern Colorado]

Georgia

* [http://www.inspiringfutures.org/ Atlanta - Inspiring Futures]

Idaho

* [http://www.thinkboisefirst.org/ Boise - Think Boise First]

Illinois

* [http://www.localfirstchicago.org/ Chicago - Local First Chicago]

Maryland

* [http://www.csballiance.org/ Chesapeake Bay Region - Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance]

Massachusetts

* [http://www.sbnboston.org/ Boston Area - Sustainable Business Network of Greater Boston]
* [http://www.cambridgelocalfirst.org/ Cambridge - Cambridge Local First]
* [http://www.sustainablecapeann.org/ Cape Ann - Sustainable Cape Ann]
* [http://www.localfirstroslindale.org/ Roslindale - Local First Roslindale]
* [http://www.somervillelocalfirst.org/ Somerville - Somerville Local First]
* [http://www.pvlocalfirst.org/ Western Mass - Pioneer Valley BALLE]
* [http://www.worcesterlocalfirst.org/WLF/ Worcester - Worcester Local First]

Michigan

* [http://www.localfirst.com/ Grand Rapids and Western Michigan - Local First West Michigan]
* [http://www.localfirst.info/ Lansing - Capital Areal Local First]
* [http://www.thinklocalfirst.net/ Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Chelsea) - Think Local First]

Montana

* [http://www.sustainablebusinesscouncil.org/ Missoula - Sustainable Business Council]

New Hampshire

* [http://www.seacoastlocal.org/ Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine - Seacoast Buy Local]

New Mexico

* [http://www.santafealliance.com/ Santa Fe - Santa Fe Alliance]

New York

* [http://www.buffalofirst.org/ Buffalo - Buffalo First]
* [http://www.capitaldistrictlocalfirst.org/ Capital District - Capital District Local First]
* [http://www.sustainhv.org/ Hudson Valley - Sustainable Hudson Valley]

Ohio

* [http://www.toledochooselocal.com/ Toledo - Toledo Choose Local]

Ontario

* [http://www.greenenterprise.net/web/ Toronto - Green Enterprise Toronto (GET)]

Oregon

* [http://www.sbnportland.org/ Greater Portland Area - Sustainable Business Network of Greater Portland]
* [http://www.thriveoregon.org/ Southern Oregon - The Rogue Initiative for a Vital Economy (THRIVE)]

Pennsylvania

* [http://www.susquehannasbn.org/ Lancaster and York counties - Susquehanna Sustainable Business Network]
* [http://www.susquehannasbn.org/ Lehigh Valley/Kutztown - Sustainable Business Network of Lehigh Valley]
* [http://sbnphiladelphia.org/ Philadelphia - Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia]

South Carolina

* [http://www.lowcountrylocalfirst.org/ Charleston - Lowcountry Local First]

Utah

* [http://www.localfirst.org/ Statewide - Local First Utah]
* [http://www.vestpocket.org/ Salt Lake City - Vest Pocket Business Coalition]

Vermont

* [http://www.vbsr.org/ Statewide - Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility]
* [http://www.localfirstvermont.org/ Statewide - Local First Vermont]

Washington

* [http://www.balleseattle.org/ Seattle - BALLE Seattle]
* [http://www.sconnect.org/ Northwest Washington - Sustainable Connections]

Washington DC

* [http://www.thinklocalfirstdc.org/ Washington DC - Local First DC]

Wisconsin

* [http://www.wiscpsa.org/ Statewide - Wisconsin Partners for SustainAbility]
* [http://www.ourmilwaukee.net/ Milwaukee - Our Milwaukee]