[SusDet Announce] Local First MI Training 6/20

[Todd Mills]

Dear Sustainable Detroiters,
You are invited to the first Michigan Local First Workshop for local  
business and community leaders. Communities throughout Michigan have  
seen the need to support the growth of locally owned businesses  
because they recognize that a vibrant local business community is  
critical to the development of a strong local economy.

Local First campaigns have proven to have a major impact on a  
community by educating local residents, businesses, and  
municipalities to the importance of shopping at locally-owned  
businesses. In Bellingham, WA, the locally-owned business network,  
Sustainable Connections, has led a four-year Local First campaign  
that has had a profound impact on the buying habits of locals.  A  
recent survey showed that 58% of all people had changed their  
purchasing choices in favor of local businesses because of the Local  
First campaign.

Many Local First campaigns are affiliated with a national  
organization called Business Alliance for Local Living Economies  
(BALLE).  There are two BALLE networks in Michigan who have been  
leading Local First campaigns for a few years—Grand Rapids and Ann  
Arbor, and a new network is getting started in Lansing.  BALLE and  
the two networks have received calls from nine other communities  
interested in starting a Local First campaign, and other communities  
in Michigan may also be ready to get started. In an effort to  
facilitate the forming of new Local First campaigns and local BALLE  
networks, we are hosting a Local First Workshop designed specifically  
for Michigan business and community leaders.  Our hope is to help  
catalyze a minimum of another ten Local First campaigns in Michigan  
in 2007 and to bring together leaders who are working on the same  
mission.

Please read the information describing the workshop and fill out the  
application and send in the check.  We hope to see you there.

Locally yours,
Laury Hammel, Co-Chair of BALLE

To register please contact Elissa Sangalli at elissa at localfirst.com  
or 616.808.3788.

Michigan Local First Workshop

Day and Date:             Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Time:                          8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Place:                          Hannah Community Center
819 Abbott Road, East Lansing, MI 48823

(517) 333-2580

Sponsors:












Facilitator:                   Laury Hammel, BALLE

                                     Katherine Czarnecki, Capital  
Area Local First
Elissa Sangalli, Local First West Michigan

                                     Lisa Dugdale, Think Local First  
(Ann Arbor)

Cost:                            $40

Meals:                         Continental breakfast and lunch provided

Objectives:

To explain the basic formats and purpose of Local First campaigns
To share the collective wisdom of BALLE on how to form and lead a  
successful Local First campaign and a BALLE Network—give network  
leaders practical ideas that can be taken home and implemented right  
away
To introduce the Michigan Local First leaders to each other and  
develop connections and a sense of camaraderie
To share best practices--programs and organizing tools
To develop a strategic approach to how local BALLE networks can work  
together regionally and the benefits and function of a state-wide  
Michigan BALLE organization
To inspire network leaders to go forward having a glimpse of what is  
possible and a vision for the future
To have fun!
Agenda
8:30                 Continental Breakfast and Networking
9:00                 Welcome and Intro Process
9:45                 Opening presentation on BALLE and Local First  
Movement
10:30               Break
10:45               Presentations and Q and A by Michigan Local First  
leaders
12:00               Lunch
1:00                 Large Group Questions and Answers
2:00                 Small Group Discussions based on topics raised  
by participants
2:30                 Report Back to Large group
2:45                 Break
3:00                 Small group discussions based on regions or  
clusters to be determined at workshop
3:30                 Report back
3:45                 Brainstorm on State-wide Michigan BALLE  
Organization role
4:30                 Wrap-up and closing
5:00                 Adjourn

To register please contact Elissa Sangalli at elissa at localfirst.com  
or 616.808.3788.

For more information contact:
Todd Mills
Network Development Manager - BALLE
todd at livingeconomies.org
Business Alliance for Local Living Economies

Interested in strengthening your local community? Your local  
economy?  Visit http://www.livingeconomies.org to learn more.

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