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Business Alliance for Local Living Economies Conference June 14-17
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) upcoming conference in Bellingham, WA has a great lineup of speakers and events this year, especially around “community capital.” Join the BALLE conference and learn how to build the businesses we need for a new economy — by reconnecting eaters with farmers, investors with entrepreneurs, and businesses with the communities and eco-systems they serve. Even if you can’t attend share and circulate to others who you think might be interested!
BALLE Business Conference, June 14-17 in Bellingham, WA
The premier socially responsible business event of the year, the 9th annual BALLE Business Conference is just around the corner. This don’t-miss event brings together more than 600 independent business owners and innovators, local living economy entrepreneurs, community investors, government economic development professionals and sustainability leaders to spotlight the most innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to growing healthy, resilient local economies.
The conference will feature:
- 80 speakers
- 6 plenary sessions and off-site celebrations
- 4 interactive sessions
- local living economy tours
- living Economies Expo
- pre-conference workshop intensives
For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.livingeconomies.org/conference-2011
If you are an entrepreneur
- Learn about finding the financing you need, from start up to growth capital, for local businesses building sustainable communities.
- See business model case studies focused on using regional resources to meet regional needs, from building products and fashion to food and energy.
- Determine how to differentiate yourself in the growing marketplace of sustainable businesses.
- Take the ZingTrain seminar, an acclaimed workshop adapted for the BALLE conference-goer and included in the registration price.
- Compete through collaboration as small businesses are winning big through cooperatives, from the Mondragon model to “thinking local first.”
If you are an investor:
- Support grassroots innovators, what is working on the ground from nonprofits and businesses forging the new economy.
- Build local investing networks, how to grow one in your area to support social entrepreneurs and help the local economy thrive.
- Attend the all-day Accelerating Community Capital workshop using place as the lens to understand how to meet regional needs with regional resources, and identify the kinds of capital needed to get there.
- Join a private reception for foundations exploring their role in catalyzing the emergence of a new economy; contact BALLE to learn more!
If you are a network leader or economic development professional:
- Develop local food systems as a driver of economic development.
- Use sustainable community metrics to plan and grow your local living economy.
- Learn from state and local innovators like Vermont’s local focus resulting in 4% unemployment, to the USDA’s pioneering economic development models in California.
- Strengthen key capacities in network leaders — a critical element in building local living economies.
- Harness social media to empower networks and spur sustainable businesses.
- Participate in a Network Leader Exchange Day for staff and board members of current networks and a How to Build a BALLE Network Workshop for those who want to start a network.
For more information and to register, please visit: http://www.livingeconomies.org/conference-2011
