www.seacoastlocal.org

Our Programs
Sept. 22: Making the Connection with author Juliet Schor!
Discover "Plenitude" at a special Member Mixer and speaker-series event with economist and best-selling author Juliet Schor 

julietschor (c) kerry burke 6inches, 300dpi.img_assist_custom.jpgMeet us at RiverRun Bookstore at 6 p.m. to have light snacks with other Seacoast Local members and learn more about strong local economies. Then at 7 p.m., join us in discovering “Plenitude: The New Economics of True Wealth” with our special guest, economist and best-selling author Juliet Schor, who says she’s here “to plant a stake in the heart of the Business-As-Usual economy and its bankrupt politics.”

Schor's new book examines the ways millions of us are seduced into emulating lifestyles we can never afford and become participants in a national culture of upscale spending. The result? We're overworked, pressed for time, and still perpetually aspiring.

Juliet's message is both a groundbreaking intellectual statement and a road map that gets us on a path that reverses the rampant destruction of the planet and restores true well-being to people and communities.

Meet Juliet and other business owners whose values align with her message on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at RiverRun Bookstore, 20 Congress St., Portsmouth. For more information about Schor's book, call 603-431-2100. For more information about the event, contact Seacoast Local at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or 603-766-1775.

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Help build a strong local economy by purchasing with purpose!

Make Your Purchases Count

Let's give our economy a much-needed boost! The 10% Shift will do just that.

10percentshift.pngWhat is the 10% Shift? If the five million households in New England shifted 10% of their existing purchases from non-local businesses to Local Independents (locally owned and independent businesses), we would see thousands of new jobs created and billions of dollars of new economic activity in New England, all without raising taxes or spending a dime more than we planned.

The 10% Shift is a coordinated call to action led by local-first organizations, like Seacoast Local, all across New England, and it has the power to stabilize and transform our economy, today, with just a few small changes from each of us.

How can you help make this a success?

  • Sign the 10% Shift pledge
  • Talk to everyone about the 10% Shift and encourage people to Shift Your Shopping
  • Post our Shift Your Shopping poster in your place of business or your neighborhood, and help build community pride (we'll email you a poster).
  • Forward our announcements to your email lists and include the news about 10% Shift in your newsletter
  • Twitter about 10% Shift, or post a link on your Facebook page
  • Participate in the (H)EAT campaign, and we'll share your contributions with the community
  • Attend a local Shift Mob! These purchasing parties are fun and powerful ways to help build and promote strong local economies and local economic independence. Look for monthly Shift Mobs in 2010.
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Local-first in the news

Read all about it...  

Buy Local: Good for community and bottom line: "Over the course of six years something has been happening and it's not just driven by us," said Phil Philbrick, whose Fresh Market works with more than 100 local vendors to supply a wide variety of fresh and new products, reports Michael McCord in the Portsmouth Herald.

Buying local is easier than you think: The Montgomery News writes about why the 10% Shift matters to their community.

Putting Wal-Mart's "green" moves in context:  What journalists and even environmentalists so often fail to do in reporting on Wal-Mart's sustainability announcements is to provide some context, writes Stacy Mitchell in Grist.

Consumers buy into "buy local': More groups are forming to send shoppers to home-grown independent businesses, says Business Week.

Buying local on a large scale: From Cleveland to Tempe, economic developers are convincing institutions with big spending power to shift more dollars to small businesses in their communities, says Business Week.

Buy Local is focal point for new Somersworth mayor:  Buy local. Strive for sustainability. And sign up for a committee (especially if you're a woman or have no experience). That was the message Mayor Lincoln Soldati presented to his constituents as he presided over his first regular City Council meeting Tuesday night, after he won in a landslide during the November election, writes Jason Claffey in Foster's Daily Democrat.

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  • Seacoast Local is honored that co-founders Karen Marzloff and Tom Holbrook were named 2009 Citizens of the Year by the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

    Of course, the award was for all of Seacoast Local. In fact, the award officially says, "For extraordinary leadership and effort in creating the Seacoast Local Initiative which promotes and supports local businesses by encouraging people to 'Buy Local.'"

    None of this would work without the unflagging support of our local, independent businesses and residents. You can help grow the movement by joining renewing attending an event volunteering
    We have a "To Do" list a mile long,
    so jump on board!

    Our work is supported by these Local Leaders: optima_newsletter.gif

     

     

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    Seacoast Local is a business-led, grassroots non-profit that encourages people to "think local first" when it comes to their money and their time. Our mission is to engage local citizens, governments, business and non-profits in rooting more money locally, in order to increase our region's economic, community, and environmental strength.

    We are also supported by:
    We accomplish our mission through education, connections and market development. You know us by these programs:
    • The 10% Shift and Seacoast Buy Local Campaign, to build awareness of the role locally owned and independent businesses play in building a strong local economy and a vibrant community
    • Making the Connection speaker series, in partnership with RiverRun Bookstore, to offer continuing education, community connections, and sustainable change. 
    • The Seacoast Local Business Exchange to facilitate sustainable prosperity among our local independent businesses in order to ensure a healthy community for all.
    • We are proud to be members of the BALLE network and New England Local Business Forum
    Our Community
    Barrington · Dover · Durham · Eliot · Exeter · Greenland · Hampton · Kensington · Kittery · Lee · Madbury · North Hampton · New Castle · Newfields · Newmarket · Portsmouth · Rollinsford · Rye · Somersworth · South Berwick · South Hampton · Seabrook · Stratham · York 
     
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