Hundreds of Entrepreneurs and Thought Leaders See Value in 8th Annual Balle Business Conference
May 5, 2010
Gathering Will Showcase the Emerging New Economy that is Community-Based, Green and Fair, May 20-23, in Charleston, SC
CHARLESTON, SC – May 5, 2010 — This month the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is bringing together an international community of business owners and thought leaders fostering the emergence of a new economic system — one based on a network of strong, local economies that are community-based, green, and fair.
Hundreds of socially responsible entrepreneurs, business network leaders, economic developers, sustainability experts, and local government and community leaders will gather at the 8th Annual BALLE Business Conference to explore cutting-edge practices in transforming communities and share tested models for local economic development.
Participants are leaders in emerging movements like green jobs, community capital and “slow money,” sustainable agriculture, green building, renewable energy, independent retail, local manufacturing, and local arts and culture. BALLE’s local living economy approach integrates these disparate economic building blocks within the context of place, such as a city or county.
The conference, themed “Lighting the Way to a New Economy,” will include 100 speakers, 10 plenary and 24 breakout sessions, an intensive pre-workshop, three “living economy” tours, and a variety of networking and social events. It runs Thursday, May 20 to Sunday, May 23 in Charleston, SC.
“Registrants are finding real value in the BALLE conference — in both affordability and content,” says BALLE executive director Michelle Long. “Together we will delve into the most relevant economic issues confronting us today, and learn about practical, effective initiatives emerging from the grassroots for building local living economies using the power of locally owned, independent, sustainable business.”
“Every month, we hear from dozens of communities looking to replicate the economic and community-building successes of local business alliances throughout North America. As local businesses work together, they empower communities to build lasting community health and wealth from the bottom up, adds Michael Shuman, research director and author of The Small-Mart Revolution and Going Local.
Plenary Speakers include:
- MichaelShuman, BALLE and author of The Small-MartRevolution
- JeffreyHollender, Founder, SeventhGeneration
- LyleEstill, Piedmont Biofuels andauthor of Small isPossible
- EricHenry, TS Designs and Cotton of theCarolinas
- WoodyTasch, Slow MoneyAlliance
- AnnieLeonard, filmmaker of The Story ofStuff
- MarjorieKelley, TellusInstitute and author of The Divine Right ofCapital
- LilyYeh, TheVillage of Arts and Humanities and BarefootArtists
- DavidOrr,OberlinCollege and author of The Nature ofDesign
- JudyWicks, co-founder of BALLE and founder of WhiteDog Café
- LeslieChristian, Upstream21 and Portfolio21
- JosephRiley, Mayor ofCharleston
Program Themes include:
- Increasingthe Success of your Triple Bottom Line Business
- Local Living Economy Business Models:Community Capital,GreenBuilding, Sustainable Agriculture,Renewable Energy, Manufacturing
- Sustainable EconomicDevelopment
- Building a Thriving Local BALLENetwork
- Think Local First Campaigns andTools
- The Power of BusinessCooperation
Regular conference rates are: general registrants: $565; BALLE Network Leaders: $515. Walk-ins welcome at onsite registration. Lodging deals start at $35/night. Lowcountry Local First network members and business owners and employees involved in Charleston’s sustainability community are eligible for a discount. Full conference information can be found at: http://livingeconomies.org/conference/.
ABOUT BALLE
The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of over 80 community networks representing 22,000 independent business members across 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces. BALLE networks create local living economies through the building blocks of independent retail, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green building, local zero-waste manufacturing, community capital, independent media, and local arts and culture. Founded in 2001, BALLE works to foster vibrant communities, a healthy natural environment, and prosperity for all.
