BALLE Business Conference to Come to Buffalo in 2013

June 26, 2012
Buffalo First

700 attendees expected for national conference that focuses on thinking local,
increasing self-reliance, building community, working with nature and celebrating diversity

BUFFALO, N.Y. – June 26, 2012 – Today, members and supporters of Buffalo First!, Deputy County Executive Richard Tobe, NYS Assemblymember Sean Ryan, Buffalo Common Councilmember Michael LoCurto, and representatives from Visit Buffalo Niagara gathered at the Massachusetts Avenue Project’s Growing Green Farm in Buffalo to announce that the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) will hold its 11th annual Business Conference in Buffalo in June 2013.

BALLE is North America's fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of more than 80 community networks in 30 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, representing more than 22,000 independent business members. The organization calls on its members to think local, increase self-reliance, build community, work with nature and celebrate diversity.

As the local BALLE affiliate, Buffalo First! has worked to foster a strong self-determined local economy in Western New York for the past six years. Buffalo First!, like BALLE, believes businesses are more than employers and profit-makers. They are neighbors, community builders and the starting point for social innovation, aligning commerce with the common good through transparency and accountability.

Event organizers estimate that the conference will bring 700 attendees to town from June 12 to June 14, 2013, resulting in an estimated economic impact of $716,000. The conference will be held at facilities on the Buffalo State campus, as well as Statler City, Lafayette Presbyterian Church, Larkin Square and the Elmwood Village.

Over the course of the next year, a Local Organizing Committee consisting of members of Buffalo First!, the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Buffalo State, the John R. Oishei Foundation, Visit Buffalo Niagara and other community members will work with BALLE national staff to plan the conference.

“BALLE is thrilled to partner with Buffalo First! to host our 11th Annual Business Conference in Buffalo. We are deeply inspired by the locally owned businesses and their supporters in Buffalo who are collaborating to revitalize your community and who are creating together a new economy that serves all people and the planet,” said Michelle Long, BALLE Executive Director. “We look forward to working with all of you over the next year to build our best-ever international convening that will showcase Buffalo's leadership, from your challenges to your homegrown local economic solutions.”

“Buffalo First! is proud to be the local host network for the 11th annual BALLE Conference,” said Sarah Bishop, Buffalo First! Executive Director. “As Buffalo continues to emerge as a leader in how localism can revitalize Rust Belt cities, we look forward to the opportunity to showcase the success of our locally owned business districts, the strength of community-driven economic development, and our commitment to building a sustainable economic future for Western New York.”

“The impacts of bringing the BALLE Business Conference to Buffalo are many. First, it’s an opportunity to expose an audience of national and international influencers to our vibrant neighborhoods, creative businesspeople and world-class attractions. Second, BALLE attendees generally seek out locally owned restaurants, bars and stores, which will keep more of their tourism dollars in Western New York,” said Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen. “The conference will also have a lasting legacy for our region, as our local leaders will have the chance to learn best practices to support socially responsible businesses in our community.”

The Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) is North America’s fastest growing network of socially responsible businesses, comprised of over 80 community networks representing 22,000 independent business members across 30 U.S. States and Canadian provinces. BALLE networks create local living economies through the building blocks of independent retail, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, green building, local zero-waste manufacturing, community capital, independent media, and local arts and culture.

Buffalo First! is a nonprofit whose mission is to foster a strong, self-determined local economy in Western New York through consumer education, advocacy and programs that further the impact of local and sustainable business in the region.

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