“These standards require us to walk the walk… It’s not enough to say we’re doing this. We must have concrete metrics to prove that we’re living up to the statements we’re making.” buff.ly/6qZHgc0

Proud to join Small Business Rising to thank Sen Murphy for introducing the FAIR PRICES FOR LOCAL BUSINESS ACT.

Move Your Money Month is here! We've got TWO great ways to get involved: Sign up for our 30-day challenge, and be part of our statewide yard sign brigade.

What is it that you do? Well, this:

What is it you do? Well, this:

In corned beef we trust mainstreetjournal.substack.com/p/in-corned-... @zingermans.bsky.social

@theamiba.bsky.social celebrate this month’s Local Legend, Helena Norberg-Hodge. She’s the founder and director of Local Futures, a nonprofit dedicated to renewing ecological and social well-being by strengthening communities and local economies. amiba.net/local-legend...

Ghost Rivers: A public art project & walking tour, rediscovering hidden streams and histories that run beneath our feet. ghostrivers.com/ghost-rivers

What a great Jumpstart session with J.P. Ferrarini today!

Who is the constituency demanding we let Live Nation and Ticketmaster keep robbing everyone with the ridiculous fees and terrible service? Kudos to the states for taking up the mantle and not selling the people out.

"B Corps use the power of business to build a better economy." buff.ly/SBBO1J4 #bcorpmonth #chooseindiesustainable

Get ready for Independent Bookstore Day with the American Booksellers Association! 🎉 How do you plan to celebrate on April 25? www.bookweb.org/independent-... @americanbookseller.bsky.social

We propose 10 state and federal policies that strengthen Rhode Island's local economies and build community wealth. localreturn.org/2026-policy-...

Thank you for letting us include your work, Mechanism! Mechanism was featured in a recent @npquarterly.bsky.social article that breaks down the impact of federal funding loss and how some nonprofits are responding. www.mechanism.community/news/mechani...

Want to help your city and local schools stop buying from Amazon? Watch our recent webinar featuring people who successfully pushed their local governments to buy from local suppliers instead — plus practical tips for how to do it in your town. www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIS3...

Join us for this discussion of Making Democracy Fun by Josh Lerner on March 24.

This will ripple and have a lasting negative impact on small, locally owned biz (that are owned by lawful permanent residents, ffs). It will also impact the alternative lending providers who are already filling the gaps for small biz without access to capital. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

In honor of Choose Black Month, Black Farmer Fund was February’s guest speaker for @theamiba.bsky.social monthly webinar series. Watch the recorded event today:

Looking for more #ChooseIndieLocal promotion ideas? Sign up for our monthly updates! myemail.constantcontact.com/Keep-the-GR-...

Our @joshdaly.bsky.social is happy to be at @mainstreetri.bsky.social’s session on economic vitality today!

Want to strengthen the fabric of your neighborhood? Build your own economic security? Join us for three Saturdays this spring. Jumpstart Rhode Island applications are due this Friday.

When I talk about business owners in Tacoma trying to do everything themselves, I'm frustrated by the self-started "buy local" campaigns that focus on shopping and consumer choices. Friends—there is literally a playbook for this that we are not using. @theamiba.bsky.social

As we move from February’s #ChooseBlackOwned Month to March’s #ChooseIndieSustainable Month, we bridge these two campaigns in today’s Choose Indie Local: Make Ripple issue. While each Choose Indie Local campaign runs for one or two months, we work to keep each theme alive year round buff.ly/INwAiZu

For this last week of Choose Black-Owned Month, we'll highlight ways to go beyond February and support, celebrate, invest, and #ChooseBlackOwned today and every day. Get inspired! buff.ly/XOq1NzD

"Every time teachers post a classroom wish list on Amazon, they’re essentially voting against their next pay raise." Terrific — and very actionable — post from my colleague @kennedysmith.bsky.social

Great event on March 3: How powerful corporations — including Amazon, Instacart, and major landlords — are using pricing algorithms to inflate prices and undermine competition. With Doha Mekki, Katie Wells, Ted Tatos, and moderator Geoffrey Fowler. Register here: ilsr.org/article/inde...

Join us Tomorrow, February 25th at 7pm for a conversation with Bruce Robbins to celebrate the release of "Who's Allowed to Protest?" Keith Gessen will join in conversation. @melvillehouse.bsky.social

New England Sweetwater Farm & Distillery, a Black-owned business in Winchester, NH, offers award-winning locally made spirits and ready-to-drink cocktails. They source many ingredients right from their farm: blueberries, heirloom cider apples, and juniper berries. Learn more! buff.ly/1zEwoa9

Apply now for our next cohort of Jumpstarters. Change the face of real estate development in Rhode Island. Shape your future and the future of your neighborhood. localreturn.org/jumpstart-rh...

Nearly every city and school district is pouring public dollars into Amazon — even though local suppliers are often cheaper and faster. A few cities have said no to Amazon’s sketchy contracts. This Friday: Learn how they broke free — and how your city can too. Register here:

A valentine for our Rhode Island hearts. Choose local, lovers!

ICYMI: Each week in February, we'll round up inspiration and highlight resources to keep Choose Black-Owned Month top of mind. buff.ly/izHfALu

For Choose Black-Owned month, join us at @theamiba.bsky.social virtual event on Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 1 pm EST. Learn about our work in building a thriving and equitable food system by investing in Black agricultural and food businesses in the Northeast. Register: buff.ly/vvqaWAQ

LOOKING FOR MORE FEBRUARY PROMOTIONS? We love the American Booksellers Association's Marketing Calendar Handouts and are creating our own version for you — with you! buff.ly/saHuwPV

We've got a great new book club discussion coming up! How can we incorporate meaningful, productive, and engaging participation into public processes? Join us on March 24 to talk about Josh Lerner's Making Democracy Fun. localreturn.org/events/?even...

Happy Birthday, @bookshop.org ! 🎂 (Pssst - did you know we have one? bookshop.org/shop/prosper...)

This is a great week to pick up your copy of Making Democracy Fun by Josh A. Lerner, so you can join our book club on March 24! Sign up at the link in our bio. Find it at a local library or a local, independent bookstore. localreturn.org/events/?even...

Localized, community-rooted, small-scale economic power matters. For decades, we've pretended like it doesn't — and even used policy to aggressively eradicate it.

WINTERACTIVE: Downtown Boston’s Outdoor Winter Art Exhibition, Jan. 14– Mar. 29 Enjoy the third annual edition of WINTERACTIVE, a free, walkable art experience featuring artworks & interactive play elements at 18 different sites, presented by the Downtown Boston Alliance. Learn more: buff.ly/EUvtBBn

Online Event | Free | Thursday, January 29 | 10 AM PT /18:00 GMT All registrants for next week's event, "Nourishing a Bioregional Economy: Put Your Money Where Your Feet Are," will be entered to win their pick of a book from Michael Shuman's library. Register Now: lnk.to/bioeconomyBK

Long Live the Local Economy Movement 💕 2026 marks the American Independent Business Alliance's 25th anniversary. Thank you for your years of engagement, transforming ripples into waves of local economic growth. conta.cc/3NC61UX

I’m so proud to be an early investor in the RI Community Investment fund — to literally *invest* in our community! Check it out 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

During this 90-minute session, Donna Morton and Michael Shuman will share their knowledge of investing locally, supporting the local economy, and building bioregional institutions, including ideas for moving your money from Wall Street to Main Street. www.resilience.org/stories/2025...

Thanks to New Mexico Thrives for sharing our upcoming event! nmthrives.org/events/busin...

We vote with our wallet.

Our work is guided by something deeper than check lists and templates; we're always looking inward to reflect and outward toward community. Thinking of everyone working for justice and compassion during these times - we're not giving up.

The Climate Smart Communities Initiative is now accepting applications for grants to help communities accelerate their climate resilience plans and projects. The grants can help small and midsize communities at any step in the planning process. Learn more! buff.ly/2nHhN1D

In 1952, there were 104 grocery stores in Dubuque (!). Today there are 12. Walmart & Hy-Vee split the market. The Telegraph Herald has an in-depth look at the state of local grocery stores across Iowa & how the demise of Robinson-Patman enforcement fueled consolidation & food deserts.

Fresh off the press ☕️ Our January Choose Indie Local monthly newsletter. Read it here: buff.ly/s9cLgNn #ChooseIndieLocal

We believe it, and we ain't giving up on helping others achieve it! Hope you'll join us for more social impact shenanigans in 2026. 🧡 (See what else we believe: prosperapartners.org/who-we-are/our-ways-of-being)