Please check our events calendar for upcoming events.

PRESENT ACTIVITIES

Monthly meetings SBN typically holds these meetings on week days, in the evening. Locations vary, but are often hosted by members at their place of businesses. Sometimes our monthly meetings are simply a celebration and community gathering, butmore often than not, these events feature an Educational Seminar on a topic pertinent to building a local living economy. Before and after the informal seminar we allow ample time for networking among like-minded business people and offer wine and/or local beer, locally produced food, and non-alchoholic beverages. Past seminars have addressed alternative transportation fuels, recycling and reuse, community capital, sustainable energy, and our local food system. We encourage interested members to get involved at all levels of planning and hosting these events. Your creativity is welcome!

Film Screenings We periodically screen films that are of particular relevance to building a local living economy with discussions following. 

Annual Regional Conference This yearly gathering has grown bigger and better each year. In past years nationally-known speakers such as Amy Goodman, Judy Wicks, Randy Hayes, David Korten and Michael Shuman have given presentations on various local living economy issues. The conference also features sessions on developing better business practices and challenges and opportunities for sustainability in the region.  The format of the conference also allows  plenty of time for networking and building business relationships at the breakfast, lunch and music and dancing filled-cocktail reception, all of which are included in the conference ticket price. The conference wraps up with a reception featuring a local product expo, a raffle, local food, beer and wine.

Annual international BALLE Conference  Each year the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) brings together business networks from around the continent for 2-4 days to share ideas, hear inspiring speakers, and have a lot of fun.  There have been three International conferences to date: Portland 2003, Philadelphia 2004 and Vancouver 2005.

Product Expo As part of the annual regional conference and annual holiday party, SBN members and other local entrepreneurs and artisans present products and services of locally-owned businesses that contribute to building a local, living economy.  The expo provides an opportunity for local businesses to do business with each other, as well as the public.

Social Venture Institute (SVI) offers a nationally-tested vehicle for sharing the expertise of successful business people with emerging entrepreneurs in our region. SVI features Case Studies where expert panelists give constuctive feedback to entrepreneurs share their challenges to the audience; True Confessions, where seasoned entrepreneurs like Judy Wicks of the White Dog Cafe and Gary Erickson of Clif Bar, share their uncensored personal stories, challenges and triumphs; and breakout sessions, which feature experts in areas ranging from business law to marketing, from finance to business technology.  Please check our Events pages for news on our 2005 SVI!

Buy Local Philly educates consumers on the importance of supporting locally-owned businesses and makes it easy for them to identify and locate the businesses offerig the products and services they need. The Buy Local Philly Campaign provides business owners with tools to feature the unique character of their establishments, maintains a website and hosts events to help shoppers vote with their dollar for a local, living economy. The pilot phase of this campaign was launched in May 2005. The ultimate goal is to roll out the campaign city-wide. Stay tuned for Buy Local Week around the holiday shopping season at the end of 2005!

Speakers from among SBN's membership are available to present and discuss why it is important that we work together towards a local, living economy. Contact leanne@whitedog.com to identify the appropriate speaker for your next event.

Promotional Activities We work with our members to develop ways to identify and promote locally owned businesses.

Email newsetter  We announce events, member news, job openings, purchasing and selling opportunities, and provide writings by thought-leaders from the Local Living Economies movement. 

Online Marketplace  Through BALLE, SBN offers a website-based database for both businesses and consumers. The focus of this website is on buying locally sourced goods whenever possible from locally-owned, independent businesses.  The Online Marketplace allows one to buy from businesses that support the community and environment at BALLE networks throughout the country. If you run an independently-owned business, list in our Online Marketplace: it's free! SBN members get a higher ranking in searches.