In the News

Christian Science Monitor: Shuman's Urgent Call to Buy Local

Alissa — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:16:04 -0600

February 16, 2009 - In many respects, the nationwide effort to revive local economies is occurring outside the media spotlight. But for reporter Tim Holt, that doesn't make the grassroots movement any less significant -- or widespread. He chronicles Michael Shuman's career and the related local living economies movement in a February 9 article in the Christian Science Monitor. — read more

Schuylerville, NY Chamber of Commerce Promotes Locally Owned Business

Alissa — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:24:48 -0600

February 4, 2009 - For Dave Roberts, President of the Schuylerville Area Chamber of Commerce, the choice is simple: to help his local economy, he promotes the area's homegrown business. "When times get tough, you spend with your neighbors. The multiplier effect will put some of that money right back in your pocket, and remember... what goes around, comes around." — read more

'Going Local' Workshop Generates Potential Business Initiatives in Yellow Springs, Ohio

Alissa — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:10:49 -0600

January 30, 2009 - On Friday, January 16, over 200 villagers from Yellow Springs, Ohio came together to learn about an alternative approach to economic development that focuses on nurturing and expanding the local and small business sector.

Over 70 residents returned on Saturday and Sunday for a hands-on local economic development workshop. — read more

Microbusiness Podcast: Unconventional Thinkers

Alissa — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 16:44:11 -0600

January 29, 2009 - In the first of a series of podcast interviews entitled "Unconventional Thinkers," Dawn Rivers Baker, entrepreneur and founder of The MicroEnterprise Journal, poses the following questions:

What has changed in the economy to cause such a surge in the number of microbusinesses that are staying micro over the last decade or so? — read more

TDC & Wallace Center Feature Innovative Local Food Enterprises from Around the World

Alissa — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:25:19 -0600

December 8, 2008 - The Wallace Center at Winrock International, in partnership with the Training and Development Corporation (TDC), announced today a selection of twelve locally-owned food enterprises, based abroad, to be profiled as part of Community Food Enterprise: Local Success in a Global Marketplace. The project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, is designed to highlight successful models of locally owned food enterprises from around the world. An additional ten U.S.-based enterprises were announced earlier this year. A list of 22 of the final 26 case studies can be found at www.wallacecenter.org/cfe.

"We’re excited to showcase these innovative enterprises as part of Community Food Enterprise," said John Fisk, Director of the Wallace Center at Winrock International. "These international enterprises are part of an important trend in development, one that emphasizes the power of social enterprises. They have the potential to combine market forces with sustainable social practices to address food access, food security and farmer livelihood in the developing world." — read more

Lecture Online: "Why Our New President Should Think Local”

Alissa — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 13:06:14 -0600

December 3, 2008 - The Commonwealth Club of California has posted on Fora.tv a high-resolution, streaming version of Michael Shuman's recent lecture, "Why Our New President Should Think Local."

The November 5 talk was hosted by the Club's Business and Leadership Forum and was emceed by forum chair Tom Waller.

Begins Shuman, "Ultimately the solution to America's economic crisis, I would argue, lies in solving our community crises. If I were Barak Obama, I would look at today's crises – the big crises he has spent the last two year on the campaign trail arguing about – and see in these crises the seeds of opportunity – opportunities that can only come through the expansion of local business." — read more

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

Alissa — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:33:47 -0600

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 12:44:41 -0600

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 12:37:55 -0500

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 15:04:59 -0500

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