There is finally a group forming in Bloomington, Indiana to become part of the BALLE Network. BALLE is The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies and works to promote local businesses. Local First Indiana had its first steering committee meeting in late July. Local First Indiana is a non-profit organization committed to supporting and promoting locally owned independent business by educating the public, facilitating collaboration, and engaging in outreach in order to create a more economically and environmentally sustainable local community, while preserving the unique local character." This is how Local First Indiana is defining local: 1. Is the business privately held (not publicly traded)? 2. Do the business owners, totaling greater than 50 percent of the business ownership, live in your local region? 3. Is the business registered in your state, with no corporate or national headquarters outside your region? 4. Can the business make independent decisions...
