You may have heard about businesses forming a chapter of the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) in Spokane. Last week, after completing the Washington State application for nonprofit incorporation, they are now changing their name to the Sustainable Business Network of the Inland Northwest and will be hosting a launch for the organization tomorrow night at 7pm in the Community Building Lobby, 35 W Main.
Similar to BALLE, their goal is to connect and support a coalition of local independent business dedicated to building a strong local living economy.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this new organization, and as we continue our work we hope to see a growing number of local businesses supporting our local economy and community in the Inland Northwest,” says Board Chair and Mountain Gear President Paul Fish on their blog.
The group points to a recent study in Maine found local businesses spent 44.6% of their revenue in the local economy, compared to 14.1% for businesses with headquarters outside the local area. “Locally owned businesses are great supporters of community events and organizations; thriving communities rely on local business,” says Kim Harmson, Board Vice-Chair and Owner of Kizuri.
After the jump, check out more information about the contributors and their guiding principles.
Business leaders in Spokane decided to form a BALLE chapter in the Inland Northwest after Michelle Long, Executive Director of BALLE spoke and a Green Business Luncheon in September 2010.
After attending training in Bellingham, 9 businesses joined the steering committee to help shepherd the new network forward. Our steering committee members are:
Bill Bloom, Go Green Directory
Bruce Gage, Eco Depot
Cassie Price, Consulting and property development
Jeff Postlewait, Rocket Bakery
Kim Harmson, Kizuri
Paul Fish, Mountain Gear
Russ Nobbs, Rings and Things
Tanya Riordan, Hula Hut Grill
Tavis Schmidt, Clean Air Lawn Care
In February of 2011, the Sustainable Business Network of the Inland northwest was accepted as a new BALLE chapter, and in April of 2011, we completed our application to be a 501.c.3 in the state of Washington.
In addition to our steering committee, our programs team which includes representatives from Sunshine Disposal and Recycling, Copeland Architects, Sun People Dry Goods, and Winfiniti have worked to develop initial programs and focus areas that will help support Northwest businesses.
economy with a culture that supports local business.
Our Local Living Economy is guided by the following principles:
Think Local First: SBN builds Local Living Economies by supporting Local Independent Businesses. Member organizations start at home, by first considering buying locally produced food, products and services, by putting our capital to work through local investments, and by supporting local arts and independent local media, and encouraging others to do so as well. Thinking local first improves the health of the environment, strengthens community, and contributes to functional democracy.
Building Sustainable Prosperity: SBN believes in making decisions based on long-term impacts and supporting a prosperous community that works with the local independent businesses that support our community.
Independent and Interdependent: SBN builds community through local economic exchange, connecting producers with consumers, entrepreneurs with resources, and individuals with information. We believe collaboration, cooperation, and fair trade between individuals and communities sits at the core of a viable and vibrant society.
Work with Nature: SBN seeks to integrate our activities with natural systems in order to create real and lasting prosperity. Every decision we make affects the vitality of our ecosystem, the health of all species and the availability of the resources that support life.
Unique Perspectives: SBN celebrates and nurtures the natural diversity of the human family, ecosystems and economies. Diversity increases resilience, propels innovation, cultivates peace, and fosters beauty and joy.
Measure What Matters: SBN measures success by the things that really matter to us -- knowledge, creativity, relationships, health, consciousness and happiness -- rather than continuous material growth.
The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.
