OUR STORY

September 2006:

Launched the first Be Local Coupon Book and Eat Local Food Map as a project of Rocky Mountain Sustainable Living Association (RMSLA)

December 2006:

Initial collaboration with Northern Colorado Food Incubator (NCFI which started in 2004), co-hosting the first Winter Community Market and partnering with National Center for Craftsmanship

Spring 2007:

• Affiliated with the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies
• Started “Uniquely Fort Collins” partnership with City of Fort Collins’ Economic Health program

Fall 2007:

• Hosted Michael Shuman, author of Going Local: Creating Self-Reliant Communities in a Global Age and The Small-Mart Revolution
• Published Be Local Coupon Book #2
• Established Founding Steering Committee for Business Network
• Hosted Be Local Day on CSU Campus
• Held Harvest and Holiday Community Markets
• Created first drawing of year-round, permanent Community Marketplace

Spring 2008:

• Coordinated “Getting Connected” for Food Businesses
• Hired staff to manage Be Local Book
• Created a 501c3 non-profit, community effort as joint effort between Be Local/Living Economy and Northern Colorado Food Incubator
• Joined Community Marketplace Planning Group of Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

Fall 2008:

• Published Be Local Coupon Book #3
• Held Harvest and Holiday Community Markets
• Debuted our film: Eat Local-Grow Local — Taking Root in Northern CO
• Hired staff to work with Business Network

Spring 2009:

• Held first New Year, Valentine, & Spring Community Markets (Monthly Jan - March)
• Started consulting role with Community Marketplace Project of Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
• Coordinated  ”2nd Annual Getting Connected” for food businesses
• Hosted Doug Hammond, E.D., BALLE-San Francisco
• Holding 2nd Be Local Day on CSU Campus

Fall 2009:

• Experienced 100 % growth in business members and hit business member #200 in Early Sept
• Started the Be Local 20/20 Challenge and Economic Impact Calculator
• Played key role in Programmatic Feasibility Study for Community Marketplace
  
• Published Be Local Coupon Book #4
• Launched online marketplace  — SearchBeLocalFirst.org
• Hosted first 1/2 day Business Event: Living Economy 2009 - Leading the Way in Challenging Times
  
• Doubled the number of Winter Farmers’ Markets to twice/month, Nov - March

Spring 2010:

• Opened our first office and hired part-time office manager and business program developer
  
• Staff now includes 2 full time Co-directors, and 5 associates working 10-30 hours each.
• Bimonthly Winter Farmers’ Markets averaging 1500-2000 people and $22,000 in economic impact each Saturday
• Hosted third annual Getting Connected for Food Businesses
• 20/20 Challenge reached the $1 Million Multiplier mark in mid-February
• Hosted radio series on Local Food System on KRFC 88.9  (coming in April)
  

….stay tuned!