PV Local First

Pioneer Valley Local First, formerly known as Pioneer Valley Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (PV BALLE), is one of 65 BALLE Networks through out North America. We are a volunteer run organization, working since 2001 to encourage people in Western Massachusetts to Think local First. Three of the projects we are currently working on include securing Sponsorships for our website at a $1,000/year, publishing a Pioneer Valley Guide To Local Businesses in the summer of 2009, and working with businesses who want to develop Action Plans to make positive changes that benefit our local economy, community, and/or environment. We would greatly like to thank Big Y World Class Market for their Major Sponsorship of our up-coming Pioneer Valley Local Business Guide. We feel our Buy Local Guide will be an important tool to help people think and shop local first!! We work closely with local, independent businesses to help them do more local purchasing, non-profits in the area like Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture, the Center for Ecological Technology, and Coop Power to encourage people and businesses in the Pioneer Valley to support local farmers and begin using green energy sources. We have also worked with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, local Mayors offices, and various Chambers of Commerce to influence their members about the need to promote the local economy. One of the biggest projects we have initiated over the past few years is the Think Local First Contest. This contest has done much to encourage people to shop locally during Christmas and the Holidays.