News & Events

10% Shift Campaign Launched

Think Local Chico — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:09:04 +0000

10% Shift, a campaign of Think Local, Chico, was launched at the Sierra Nevada Big Room.

Chico Joins Nationwide Living Economies Movement

Think Local Chico — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 07:38:00 +0000

Think Local, Chico! to promote local, sustainable business network

In early January, Chico became the first Sacramento Valley community to receive official membership status with the prestigious Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). After twenty months of foundation building, the organization Think Local, Chico! became recognized as a BALLE network working toward the goal of a vital and resilient locally owned, independent business sector.

"Being part of this nationwide network is a huge boost in helping us make Chico an island of success in a sea of economic turmoil," said Marc Kessler, who sells Chico-grown flowers at the Farmer's Market and ships them nationwide for his local business, California Organic Flowers. Businesses like Kessler's infuse our local economy with outside money, since living economies are both self-reliant and exporting.

America's economy is ailing. The solution is economic development based on place, relationships and life-honoring values. Initial efforts of Think Local, Chico! include the establishment of an online directory of Chico's locally owned, independent businesses, a Buy Local First campaign, a local gift card program and seasonal networking events for members.

At its first official Board meeting held January 13, the Think Local, Chico! BOD approved the following ten building blocks for our local economy endeavors: sustainable agriculture, independent retail, zero-waste manufacturing, green building, renewable energy, arts & culture, professional services, media, healthcare, and community capital. TLC is expanding its BOD, currently comprised of representatives of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the Chico News & Review, The Chico Project and Maisie Jane's Sunshine Products, as well as representatives of founding businesses California Organic Flowers, Lyon Books, Red Tavern, and Greenfeet.

"Keeping local dollars circulating in our community improves our parks, schools and quality of life," said Maria Venturino, whose menu at Red Tavern boasts many locally grown ingredients. She continued, "Working for a locally owned business is more meaningful for the employee." According to a 2006 Iowa State University study at an ethanol plant, as the percentage of local ownership increases, so does the number of jobs created locally.

Think Local, Chico! will do everything possible to strengthen our local economy by working collaboratively with businesses, non-profit organizations and citizens in the community.

Think Local, Chico! Kick Off Event

Think Local Chico — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:19:07 +0000

With fall in full swing and the holiday season approaching, we at Think Local, Chico! are enthusiastically engaged in growing our community's locally owned, independent business sector.

Thanks to those of you who attended our successful September kick-off at Red Tavern, and to our newest members for signing up to add your voice to our living economy building endeavors.

Since the kick-off, we completed our application to be official members of the national Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE). Our application will soon be approved.

In these economic times, we believe local living economies are the solution, and Chico is as ripe for this movement as any community in the nation. Citizens and local business owners here understand the importance of a strong local economy and are increasingly putting their money where their values are.

Kudos to the Chico News & Review for their full page ad in last week's issue simply stating: "Shop local this season." The San Francisco Bay Guardian is also hip to the living economy movement and last Thursday, Think Local Chico!'s co-founder Jessica Rios met with regional BALLE network leaders in San Francisco to forward our local efforts. As a result, we're growing connections with Go Local Sonoma County and Nevada City's BALLE network.