What kind of Businesses should join?
Local cooperatives/employee-owned businesses
Independent businesses that advertise in community newspapers
Businesses that fit within the building blocks of a Local Living Economy such as:
• Sustainable agriculture and local food systems – natural food stores, food co-ops, local farmers, farmers’ market participants, organic food companies, native plant nurseries; sustainable fisheries; sustainable foresters.
• Housing and low-impact building: members of local green building associations, local retailers of environmentally healthy home supplies such as low-VOC paints, FSC certified wood products, and energy efficient lighting.
• Clothing – local clothing manufacturers.
• Arts and culture – artists, musicians, independent film theaters.
• Fair Trade businesses – crafts, coffee, chocolate.
• Transportation – biodiesel co-ops, local bicycle shops, electric vehicles, local transit authorities, car-sharing companies.
• Waste and re-use – RE Stores, manufacturers that build from re-used materials.
• Community capital – credit unions, CDIFs, locally owned banks.
• Independent media – community newspapers and independent radio stations.
• Recreation and cultural exchange – museums, local tour businesses.
• Health care – naturopathic physicians, yoga and fitness, massage.
• Energy – solar, wind, tidal
• Independent retail: independent bookstores, local hardware, computer, and office supply, and drugstores.
