Building the New Economy

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.

Supporting locally owned, independent businesses helps strengthen our communities and the local economic base in several ways:

  • Money Spent Locally Stays Local. Several studies have shown that money spent at locally owned businesses stays in the local economy, re-circulating over two times more than money spent at outside chains.
  • Local Owners Are Local Contributors. Research has shown that small local businesses make indispensable contributions to communities and neighborhoods.
  • Local Businesses Offer Stable Employment. Small businesses account for the largest share of net new jobs generated each year, and locally based businesses provide some of the most stable employment opportunities in a community.
  • Local Ownership Lessens Environmental Impact. Small businesses, which are more often located in central business districts, have less impact on local ecosystems compared to larger retailers located in strip malls or stand-alone buildings.
  • Tax Revenue Goes Further. Local businesses in town centers also require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services.
  • Independent Businesses Maintain Uniqueness. An economy of diverse, unique businesses attracts today's skilled workers and investors who can choose to settle and grow businesses anywhere. Additionally, these one-of-a-kind communities attract tourisms as well.

Learn more about Local First campaigns.

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.