Broadening awareness of the consequences of our shopping choices is an essential strategy for rebuilding our local economies. This 4-page fact sheet will help you get started. Continue reading
As major chains report weak holiday sales, a nationwide survey of 1,382 independent retailers has found that a desire to support locally owned businesses is emerging as a factor in people’s shopping choices. Continue reading
The United States, creator of the Internet, increasingly lags in high-speed access to it. In the absence of a national broadband strategy, hundreds of communities have invested in broadband infrastructure to solve their problem locally. A new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) explores this essential infrastructure and the options now available to communities.
The ILSR Report contends that DSL and cable networks fail to offer the speeds and capacity necessary for the digital future.
Learn about our accomplishments in three sectors of targeted focus: Hometown Advantage – expanding, developing and protecting locally owned retail businesses; Democratic Energy – dispersed energy generation and local ownership; Telecommunications As Commons – building strong, publicly owned telecommunications networks.
The Sustainable Biomaterials Collaborative (SBC) is a network of organizations working together to spur the introduction and use of biomaterials that are sustainable from cradle to cradle. The Collaborative seeks to advance the development and diffusion of sustainable biomaterials by creating sustainability guidelines, engaging markets, and promoting policy initiatives. The SBC principles, key documents, resources… Continue reading
Our recommended watching list. Continue reading
The United States, birthplace to the Internet, now lags in access to it.
Countriesin Asia and Europe now have faster and cheaper connections, allowing their businesses to communicate more effectively, operate on smaller budgets, and develop applications that are useless over our slower speeds. Several Minnesota cities are regaining the edge with investments in publicly owned, citywide fiber-optic networks.
Our program continued its tradition of solving problems in ways that reinforce economic and environmental security. Our work continues to help community development organizations, small businesses and government agencies increase productive employment, recover increasing amounts of valuable recycled materials and products, save environmental resources, and lower operating costs. Full Report (228 KB) Also a 2006 Report… Continue reading
ILSR’s new web site is the only web site dedicated to promoting refillable beverage containers. It contains information on policies that support refilling, where they work, how to revive refilling in the U.S., and many links to more information. Launched with support from the GrassRoots Recycling Network. http://www.grrn.org/beverage/refillables/index.html Continue reading
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