Independent Coalitions Plan Regional Meetings to Grow Localism Movement

May 07, 2008

In an effort to further expand the burgeoning localism movement, independent alliances will be gathering at regional meetings in various areas around the country to brainstorm and share ideas. Over the next two months, there will be regional gatherings in New Hampshire, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Michigan. The Portland (Maine) Independent Business & Community Alliance (PIBCA) helped coordinate the New Hampshire gathering of local business groups; the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) helped organized the three other regional meetings, which are geared toward providing information to communities that have launched or are exploring localism campaigns.

"The interest in localism has been exploding in recent months," said Jeff Milchen of AMIBA. "Where there are strong clusters of interest in the region, we started putting together regional meetings.... We expect to be scheduling a few more this year, in northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and the central Midwest.... We are open to scheduling additional gatherings like this, too. Right now, we're responding to interest in the areas."

Milchen noted that after the first gathering -- which took place on April 2 in Tampa, Florida, and was coordinated by the Tampa Independent Business Alliance -- there was a "response to do more."

"Growing the Local Business Movement in New England," to be held at MainStreet BookEnds in Warner, New Hampshire, on Tuesday, May 20, will bring together the leaders of campaigns working to promote support of locally owned businesses in New England, including both established campaigns and those just getting started.

The meeting grew out of a conversation that PIBCA board member Stacy Mitchell, senior researcher for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and author of Big Box Swindle (Beacon Press), had with a couple of her board colleagues. "We thought it would be good to get to know our neighbors and share ideas -- talk about common challenges," Mitchell said. "I should emphasize that this is really coming up from the grassroots and is an idea that grew out of our local campaign here in Portland. Although both BALLE [Business Alliance for Local Living Economies] and AMIBA are supporting the gathering, it's not an initiative of either group."

Goals of the New England gathering include learning more about what each campaign is doing; sharing best ideas and practices; talking about common challenges that local campaigns face and ways of overcoming them; exploring ideas for leveraging efforts for greater regional impact; and nurturing new and nascent campaigns by sharing experiences and advice. Thus far, participating groups include Cambridge Local First; Damariscotta Region Business Alliance; Pioneer Valley Local First; Seacoast Local; Support Newburyport; Sustainable Cape Ann; Vermont Local First; Westerly Area Local Business Alliance; the Albany Independent Business Alliance; and PICBA. In addition, the New England Independent Booksellers Association, and staff from Titcomb's Books and Toadstool Bookshops plan to be at the meeting.

Upcoming meetings coordinated by AMIBA include:

• "The Colorado Summit on Community Economic and Environmental Vitality" at the Summit County Community Center in Frisco, Colorado, on Tuesday, May 27. The gathering will look to accelerate the localization movement and help connect communities in the southern Rockies that have launched or are exploring campaigns to help local businesses thrive. The primary focus will be showing participants all the basics needed to effectively execute a "Buy Local" campaign or launch an independent business alliance. Participating in the meeting will be Jeff Milchen and Jennifer Rockne of AMIBA, and Michael Kinsely, senior consultant for the Rocky Mountain Institute's Sustainable Communities program. Kinsley as helped dozens of communities improve economic vitality while conserving natural resources and open space.
  

• "The New England Summit on Community Economic Vitality" at a venue to be determined in Concord, Massachusetts, on Wednesday, June 11. Aimed at people concerned with supporting local, independent businesses in their communities, this meeting will offer the opportunity to learn how to effectively executive a "Buy Local" campaign. Alliances and many other groups working on local efforts and those serious about starting to organize such efforts will share ideas, resources, and explore opportunities for collaboration. Presenting at the summit will be Mitchell and Milchen.
  

• "The Great Lakes Gathering of Organizers and Potential Organizers of Independent Business Alliances," at Kazoo Books in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on Friday, June 20. Buy Local Kalamazoo is hosting this daylong gathering to help build the localization movement in the region. The meeting will bring together people working with Michigan-based independent business alliances, other groups engaged in local efforts, and those serious about starting to organize such efforts will share ideas, resources, and explore opportunities for collaboration. The event will be presented by Milchen.

In related localism news, the Sixth Annual BALLE Conference will be held at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, from Thursday - Saturday, June 5 - 7. This year's theme is "Grow Deep: Businesses Building Strong Communities." The conference will celebrate pioneers of the local green economy -- those who say, "My business is the most powerful way for me to express my values, serve my community, and make a contribution to a healthier natural environment." Hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs, BALLE network leaders, economic development professionals, and local government officials will gather on the campus of Boston University to discuss emerging opportunities to grow community wealth through strong locally-owned businesses.

Topics will include Successful Local First Campaigns; Profitable Green Business Solutions; BALLE Models for Economic Development; Financing Your Community Business; BALLE and the Global Economy; and more.

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