Published 03-13-06
Submitted by Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
The 4th Annual BALLE conference, entitled Creating Sustainable Communities, offers a unique opportunity for mission-driven entrepreneurs and business managers to hone their skills, make business contacts, and connect with peers who can offer support and resources. The conference also brings together community leaders and business network leaders who work to promote locally owned businesses, green business practices, locally grown food, and innovative public policy solutions.
Creating Sustainable Communities provides a forum for the latest strategies and business practices, empowering participants to come away inspired and equipped with valuable tools to create a living economy in their region.
Speakers include:
Sessions include:
Lead Sponsors:
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility - www.vbsr.org
Burlington Community and Economic Development Office - www.cedoburlington.org
Chroma Technology - www.chroma.com
RecycleBank - www.recyclebank.com
TimeBanks USA - www.timebanks.org
About BALLE:
BALLE is a growing alliance of local business networks dedicated to building Local Living Economies. BALLE includes 25 business networks with more than 4,500 business members. It is our mission to catalyze, strengthen, and connect these local business networks.
BALLE networks respond to the unique needs of their communities and share ideas throughout the alliance of networks. In Bellingham, business leaders created a "Local First" campaign to encourage citizens to buy from locally owned businesses whenever possible to keep money circulating within the community. In Vermont, the members of the network employ 8 percent of the state's workforce and lobby for increased support for renewable energy and healthcare. In Philadelphia, the network trains new social entrepreneurs in the business skills they need to be successful through its Social Venture Institute.
In community after community, BALLE networks are proving 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.