The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, or BALLE, is North America's fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of over 80 community networks in 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces representing over 22,000 independent business members across the U.S. and Canada.
BALLE believes that local, independent businesses are among our most potent change agents, uniquely prepared to take on the challenges of the twenty-first century with an agility, sense of place, and relationship-based approach others lack. They are more than employers and profit-makers; they are neighbors, community builders and the starting point for social innovation, aligning commerce with the common good and bringing transparency, accountability, and a caring human face to the marketplace.
BALLE's mission is to catalyze, strengthen and connect networks of locally owned independent businesses dedicated to building strong Local Living Economies.
BALLE brings together independent business leaders, economic development professionals, government officials, social innovators, and community leaders to build local living economies. We provide local, state, national, and international resources to this new model of economic development.
We’re showing that independent locally owned businesses can go beyond traditional measures of success. We're proving that these businesses are accountable to stakeholders and the environment. We're helping these businesses flourish in their local economies. And we're leveraging the power of local networks to build a web of economies that are community-based, green, and fair - local living economies.
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- EIN 20-1544255
- (510) 587-9417
- 2323 Broadway Oakland CA 94612-2414 USA
- http://bealocalist.org
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Chambers of Commerce & Business Leagues
Mission: To create, strengthen, educate, and connect local non-profit networks of small business people, non-profit leaders, governmental representatives, and consumers dedicated to building just and sustainable local economies in their regions.
Programs: Connecting leaders: balle fellowship - north america's premiere learning and leadership community for visionary local economy leaders. These leaders see the big picture in their communities, have an eye for spotting win-win-win opportunities across sectors and the character and dedication to bring businesses together and make things happen. A two-year program with relationships that last a lifetime, fellows get inspiration, knowledge and support they need to do their best work. The balle fellowship convenes eight deep, interactive retreats facilitated by world-renowned experts and focuses on personal leadership and development, best of business models, economic strategies for key sectors and pathways for on-going mentorship, sharing and collaboration.
promoting solutions: services & education - promote the benefits of building healthy, sustainable local economies through online resources, e-newsletter, publications, calls and webinars, and training workshops. Advise local communities on how to strengthen and connect the building blocks of their local economies: sustainable agriculture, community capital, green building, renewable energy, zero-waste manufacturing, independent retail and media. Create and disseminate a local living economic development strategy for increasing local community health and wealth--boosting local employment, community morale, and civic pride; lessening impact on the local ecosystem; and preserving the unique heritage of a region.
promoting solutions: annual conference - the annual business alliance for local living economies (balle) conference explores emerging innovations and business solutions toward building healthy, sustainable local economies and hosts interactive discussions about proven, practical tools and frameworks. 514 people attended the conference in 2013.