Local First Alliance – February 25, 2009

UNH RECO – Professor John Halstead

1. Theory

See Burlington UVMtalk (attached powerpoint)

2. Practice

  • Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE)

An international alliance of more than 50 independently operated local business networks with more than 15,000 members dedicated to building local living economies.

They envision a sustainable global economy made up of local living economies that build long-term economic empowerment and prosperity through local business ownership, economic justice, cultural diversity and environmental stewardship.

Networks of locally-owned independent businesses (and sometime community nonprofits), Membership organizations, logos, Activities (Directories, Coupon books, Credit cards (Local Cares Card – Santa Fe), Fall arts guide (Seacoast Local), Sustainable Business Leadership program, Community events to celebrate Place)

3. Local First Alliance

  • Organizing
  • Role of Hanover Co-op

Co-op Board in pursuing one of its goals – building and supporting a local cooperative economy – decided to support the UpperValley local economy where most of its members reside. We invited Michael Shuman, author of Going Local and Small-Mart Revolution, to speak at our annual meeting on the Co-op and, the next morning, to address a meeting of locally-owned businesses and community non-profits. We assembled a group of 120 people for his talk that was very well received. Many there indicated that would like to be involved in future meetings; and many of these folks were also available to work on establishing an organization or association of locally-owned independent businesses and community non-profit. The Co-op agreed to help this group get started.

  • Organizing Committee

Original Participants: Cindy Aho-Young (DHMC), Terry Appleby (Hanover Co-op), Liza Bernard (Norwich Bookstore), Jake Blum (Systems Plus Computers), Lisa Cashdan (VT Community Foundation), David Coombs (DHMC), Wayne Gersen (Hanover Dresden SAU 70), Paul Gross (Designer Gold), Larry Litten, Terry Martin (Mascoma Savings Bank), Gayle Ottman (Hartford Area Chamber of Commerce), Allan Reetz (Hanover Co-op), Steve Taylor (Taylor Farm), Joanna Whitcomb (Dartmouth College Planning), Len Cadwallader (Vital Communities), Richard Schramm (Hanover Co-op Board)

Have met monthly (except for December) since July. Have now agreed on a name, definitions of locally-owned independent businesses and geographical area, inclusion of local community non-profits, organizational connection to Vital Communities and BALLE, mission, pledges, dues structure, budget, and workplan.

Definitions

The UpperValley is defined as the UpperConnecticut RiverValley region that straddles two states and several counties. It does not have strict boundaries, as different applications require different interpretations of the area.

Individual: anyone who lives or works or for whatever reason cares about the well-being of the UpperValley is invited and encouraged to join this exciting initiative!

Locally Owned and Independent Business: The business is physically located in the Upper Valley and has the autonomy to make all decisions regarding the name and look of the business, purchasing practices and distribution; and all marketing, rent, and other business expenses are paid without assistance from a corporate headquarters located outside of the Upper Valley.

Locally Based Non Profit Organization: The organization is located in and serves the UpperValley region and has autonomous authority over all operational decisions. Grant-making or gifting decisions are all done at this local level.

The intent of these definitions is to allow the Local First Alliance to help the local drivers of our economy – individuals, businesses, and non profits. There are other good resources for national and international corporations that are headquartered outside of the UpperValley interested in socially responsible policy making and implementation.

Mission Statement

Local First Alliance seeks to

• create a strong and sustainable local economy that benefits all UpperValley residents,

• enhance the vitality and social responsibility of locally-owned, independent businesses and community based non-profits,

• build a strong community with active arts and cultural organizations,

• and protect and preserve the ecological system upon which we all rely.

Individual Members Pledge

I pledge to purchase goods and services from locally owned, independent businesses whenever possible.

I pledge to support local cultural activities and charities.

I pledge to minimize the use of non-renewable resources and the generation of waste.

Business and Organization Members Pledge

We pledge to purchase goods and services from locally owned, independent businesses, whenever possible.

We pledge to support and promote local cultural activities and charities.

We pledge to provide a quality work environment, offering livable wages and safe jobs for our employees.

We pledge to offer superior customer service and to seek customer and community feedback.

We pledge to operate efficiently, in order to minimize the use on non-renewable resources and the generation of waste.

We pledge to work together to find the common good.

4. Research Agenda

Individual Projects:

  • Identify locally-owned independent businesses in the UpperValley.
  • Assemble list (and contact information) of these types of businesses in the four UpperValley counties – Orange and WindsorCounties (Vermont) and Grafton and Sullivan Counties (NH). This may mean finding and going over existing lists of businesses (from Chambers of Commerce; local town clerks, regional economic development agencies) and identifying as best possible those that meet guidelines like those of BALLE.
  • Assemble a similar list (and contact information) of UpperValley governmental and non-profit organizations that produce goods and/or services (for which they receive payments, i.e. business-like), are community-based (unlikely to move) and can make purchasing and other decisions without outside approval (independent)
  • Gather basic information, and plan a survey to gather more, about the above organizations to understand and ultimately to measure their role and impacts in the UpperValley economy.
  • The information to be collected (ideally) would include:
  • When started, products and/or services provided, annual revenues, annual earnings, number of full-time employees, etc.
  • Where employees live (e.g. number and percent of total workforce within Upper Valley, dollar value and percent of personnel expenses for those living in Upper Valley) and where they buy services, supplies, and other goods (e.g. dollar value and percent of total purchases from within the Upper Valley, from NH and/or VT, New England). Might also want to determine the types of expenditures made from establishments in these different areas.
  • Who purchases their goods and services, percent and dollar value of sales to individuals and organizations within the UpperValley. (With some non-profits might include the percent of those served who live in the UpperValley)
  • Nature and extent of their social/community and environmental activities.

O The information to be gathered would come from:

  1. websites, printed materials, phone calls, and/or other sources
  2. a survey that would be developed and tested (but not administered at this time) working with business members on the LocalFirstUpperValley organizing committee
  • Using data from 2 above and other information, identify and discuss the qualities that differentiate locally-owned independent businesses from other businesses in the local area. Ask what makes local ownership and independence significant and how do these local businesses make the UpperValley the unique place it is? How do the experiences provided by shopping at local businesses help shape the community we are trying to enhance?
  • Develop a marketing plan and campaign to enroll members in the newly-formed LocalFirstUpperValley (using the list developed in 1 above). This plan would include:
  • Statement of goals and objectives, and strategies
  • A statement of the benefits of membership
  • Any needed campaign materials (perhaps a logo?)
  • A work-plan/time-line for implementation

B. Class Project

  • Provide a wide range of support for the start-up of LocalFirstUpperValley (Class project). The class would work with a contact person and have access to the full 15 member organizing committee (and its meetings) and to its task force leaders. The class would provide assistance that would include some or all of the following:
  1. Review and refinement of organizational mission, goals, objectives
  2. Review and suggestions for the organizational structure
  3. Help in developing a list of potential members (see #1 above), categories of membership
  4. Gathering information about the potential members (see #2 above)
  5. Help in developing a marketing and membership plan and campaign (see #3 above); membership structure and fees
  6. Help in developing a work plan and a six-month and annual budget and cash flow
  7. Help in developing a website and an on-line member directory (and hard copy summary directory)