September 8, 2007 - Under the theme, "Partnering for Sustainability, Enabling a Diverse Future," Ball State University hosted its 7th annual Greening of the Campus conference September 6-8, the continuation of a conference series that dates from 1996.

Michael Shuman gave the plenary talk on Thursday, September 7, entitled "The Small-Mart Revolution: The Growing Power of Campus Economies." Mr. Shuman was introduced by Stan Keil, Associate Professor of Economics. — read more 

June 19, 2007 - The Fair Food Foundation announced today the release of a study of the economic impact of local food purchases in Detroit and surrounding area. — read more 

May 12, 2007 - The Small-Mart Revolution was awarded a 2007 Independent Publisher Book Award today. The award for the book, also known as an "Ippy Award," is a Bronze Medal in the business category. — read more 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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 

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