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Business Alliances for Local Living Economies: BALLE Has it Right

BALLE brings together independent business leaders, economic development professionals, government officials, social innovators, and community leaders to build local living economies.

BALLE is a organization comprised of networks of locally owned sustainable businesses throughout North America. BALLE works to catalyze, strengthen and support these partner networks recognizing that thriving local businesses focused on sustainability in practice lead to thriving local economies and more vibrant communities.

BALLE member networks have access to the types of entrepreneurial training opportunities, monthly check in calls, conferences, and workshops some IDEO contributors have highlighted as key to restoring vibrancy to communities. But perhaps more importantly, these local business owners are connected with each other not only regionally but across state and country lines. There are tools and people with actual experience available to help align vision and offer suggestions and advice when the inevitable challenge or impediment arises. 

Like OpenIDEO, BALLE recognizes the value in and potent power of collaboration.  Facilitating and empowering collaboration in the local business sector joins extensive manpower towards revitalization and builds community. With business growth, come jobs. But with sustainable community focused business growth comes long term community vibrancy.  With additional motivators to buy locally (such as the Wedge Card mentioned in the "Supporting Local Business" inspiration) the end result has the potential to revitalize the local.

BALLE Website: http://www.livingeconomies.org/

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