ALLE Network Services
Printer-friendly version Send to friend
At its core, BALLE's work is about community empowerment. BALLE networks of local businesses are working at the grassroots to reconnect eaters with farmers, investors with entrepreneurs, and business owners with their employees, neighbors and ecosystems.
BALLE's mission is to catalyze, strengthen and connect networks of locally owned independent businesses dedicated to building strong local living economies. Our services are designed to facilitate the development of community networks of independent businesses, to guide networks through various stages of development, to synthesize and communicate the best network development ideas and practices, and to build the larger movement for local living economies.
If you're not currently a BALLE network and would like to learn more, please visit our Start a Network page, or look for existing networks in your area.
Available to all BALLE member networks, our current suite of services includes:
BALLE Basics Orientation Sessions
For people interested in launching a new BALLE network -- or for new staff, board members and business members of existing networks -- we offer free conference-call orientation sessions each month on the basics of BALLE and our approach. We discuss local living economy principles, BALLE services and network benefits, the range of programs BALLE local business networks have undertaken, and the network application and intake process. We also leave significant time for questions. Registration for each call is limited to the first 20 RSVPs. See our events page to register for the next call.
BALLE Conference & Discounted Admission
Our annual BALLE Business Conference brings together hundreds of business owners, entrepreneurs, economic development professionals, network leaders, and community leaders to share replicable, applicable initiatives emerging from the grassroots for building local living economies. Come connect, share, and be inspired by the entrepreneurs and thought leaders building the business models we need for local food systems, community capital, local living economy manufacturing, green building, and energy efficiency. Please see our conference page, and sign up for the BALLE Buzz e-newsletter to receive updates.
BALLE Training Workshops
Our new workshop series, Building a Local BALLE Network, brings experienced BALLE leaders to your community for a day of intensive training on network and program development. Intended for existing and new networks, these workshops are appropriate for local business, government, and community representatives. You’ll leave equipped with key principles, tools and relationships for building business and community innovation through the building blocks of a local living economy: independent retail, sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency and renewables, green building, local manufacturing, and community capital. For a schedule of upcoming workshops, please see our training workshops page.
Members Website
The Members Website was created for the staff, board members and all those involved in supporting the success of local BALLE networks. It includes a large document library and an encyclopedia of network development resources, all regularly updated by BALLE staff and network leaders. Here you’ll find detailed information on how to develop an effective organization, numerous program ideas, contact information for other network leaders, an archive of newsletters and Network Leader Roundup Call notes, and much more.
BALLE RoundUp Calls
These lively monthly calls for network leaders feature presentations and discussions on topics of interest at both the regional and national levels, and feature expert speakers and network leaders themselves. Calls are typically held the second Tuesday of each month and are open to representatives of BALLE networks, including network staff, board members, and key business members. See our events page for the calendar of upcoming calls and topics.
BALLE Guides
With our network partners, BALLE co-publishes How-To Guides for sustainable local business and network development. BALLE Guides provide easy-to-use advice and case studies for business networks who want to expand their programming and accelerate their impact. Current guides include:
How to Build a BALLE Network [NEW, available later this year]
Written by BALLE Executive Director Michelle Long and the staff of Sustainable Connections, this 200-page manual is loaded with resources and templates based on the work of networks throughout North America. Email us to reserve a copy.
Think Local First [available now; updated version available later this year]
The proven how-to manual for organizing, incorporating, funding, and sustaining a Local First campaign, often a community's first step on the path to a Living Economy. Email us to order a copy.
Community Food Enterprise [NEW, available now online]
Developed by Michael Shuman and Alissa Barron, in partnership with the Wallace Center at Winrock International, this report chronicles the social, environmental and financial performance of 24 locally owned food enterprises including producers, processors, grocers, restaurants, training programs and other food-related businesses from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. To access the report online, or to download the full report or specific case studies as PDFs, go to www.communityfoodenterprise.org.
Green Jobs Toolkit [NEW, available August 2010]
Written by Leanne Krueger-Braneky and staff, and based on the successful efforts
of the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia, this guide is a must read for anyone interested in incubating green jobs within locally owned
businesses and creating local policy change that supports green collar work. This
manual will be available in hard copy at a reduced fee for current BALLE members. Email us to order a copy.
Food and Fuels Toolkit [NEW, available early 2011]
Written by Vicki Pozzebon and staff, and based on the successful efforts of the Santa Fe Alliance, this guide is a must read for anyone working to rebuild local food systems, to create local, renewable energy sources, and to connect these two building blocks through integrated work.
Toward Zero Waste: A How-To Manual for Communities [NEW, available early 2011]
Written by Derek Long and staff, and based on three years of successful efforts by Sustainable Connections working with 250 independent businesses, this guide will include: an overview of the Toward Zero Waste Initiative in Whatcom County, WA, including implementation process and budget; an analysis of barriers to implementation, potential incentives, analysis of impact, lessons learned, and best practices; and samples of marketing materials, outreach documents, case studies, language and tools used by participants to implement waste reduction in their businesses. The manual will also include information on other communities piloting innovative waste management programs.
Community of Practice Immersion
The Community of Practice Immersion Program, or CoP, is a new annual, cohort-based program for linking and strengthening the pioneering BALLE network leaders who are creating the local living economies movement. The CoP consists of 4-6 in-person immersion retreats that build leadership competencies, foster peer-to-peer learning and community, and harness training from world-class experts. Approximately 10 participants will be selected each year. For more information, please see our CoP immersion program page.
Peer Consulting with Regional Hub Networks
In 2010, we launched a new peer consulting service with four pilot networks in 2010:
* Local First (Grand Rapids, MI)
* Santa Fe Alliance (Santa Fe, NM)
* Sustainable Connections (Bellingham, WA)
* Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
Through the BALLE Regional Hubs, networks will have ongoing access to phone and email consulting on a wide range of organizational and program development issues. Hub Networks will also host regional network gatherings, perform at least one training workshop a year, and will work with BALLE staff to assist potential new networks and interested communities. For more information about and access to our Hub Networks, please see our hub networks page.
Regional Gatherings & Regional Connectivity Calls
BALLE staff and Regional Network Hubs host periodic, in-person regional gatherings to promote deeper networking and peer support. For more information, see our regional gatherings page. Gatherings are also advertised on the events section of our website and via email.
In addition, we will lead periodic regional phone calls to help build peer relationships, facilitate idea-sharing and leverage regional events, speakers and policy change. These calls are publicized to BALLE member networks via email.
Local Economic Development Encyclopedia, "Leakage" Calculators, and Workbook
Our new suite of local economic development and public policy tools was developed by author, economist and BALLE research director Michael Shuman along with a committee of economic development experts from across North America. The tools include:
* An online encyclopedia of current issues, successful examples, and helpful resources (available now to member networks through our Member Website)
*
3 online “leakage” calculators (released from June - December)
* Community training workbook (released in fall 2010)
Local First Campaigns
"Think Local First" is a term developed and trademarked by BALLE networks to refer to our commitment to our communities. Rather than simply promoting "buying" local, we are suggesting our larger role as stewards. By thinking local, we can make choices that have dramatic impact on our local communities, economies, and environments. A Local First campaign educates consumers and businesses about the economic, social and often environmental advantages that independent, local businesses bring to a community. The goal is to create a thriving local economy by maximizing the potential of local businesses, and transferring market share (business, government, and consumer purchases) from non-locally owned businesses to local independently owned businesses. Resources include a How-To Guide, program samples from dozens of communities, one or more Roundup Calls each year featuring Local First innovations, and an annual Buy Local Week. For more information, see our Local First campaigns page.
Helping You Tell Your Story
With media outreach, (mainstream and social media), a video library, and regular articles written by national thought leaders in response to your most frequently asked questions, we support you in communicating the impacts and benefits of local living economies and the importance of supporting your work.
BALLE Bureau
BALLE staff and board members speak weekly at most of the nation’s leading conferences for socially responsible investing, business, and economic development, and they’re available for your community! BALLE’s line-up will inspire, provoke, and incite any audience, and represents a perfect way to kick off or celebrate any living economy campaign. See our calendar of speaking events, and email us to request a speaker in your community.
BALLE Buzz E-Newsletter
Our bi-monthly e-newsletter is packed with program ideas from peer communities, case studies of local living economy businesses, guest essays, and overviews of new resources and tools to support your work. Please click here to subscribe. We do not sell our list under any circumstances.
Donate Now
No comments:
Post a Comment