About Us

Capital District Local First is a 501c6 nonprofit organization in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady Counties in New York State. Our members and supporters are committed to building a strong locally owned, independent sector of the economy. We work actively to ensure the participation of businesses from all neighborhoods and communities in the Capital District.  CDLF is an affiliate of BALLE, the Business Alliance for Local Living Economies, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building local, living economies (see our mission statement).

Our organization is developing the following programs:

• Meetings and Events
  
• Promotional Work
  
• Local First Day
  
• Research
  

Programs

Meetings and Events

Our meetings are open to all and held the first Monday of every other month. Our meetings offer attendees opportunities to network with each other during the pre-meeting "meet and greet" hour, and there is also an opportunity to discuss common needs and interests. Most meetings will include short lectures from guest speakers whose work is particularly relevant to the local, independent business community. We also will sponsor and co-sponsor other area events in line with our mission, such as out-of-town speakers, conferences, and the Green Drinks meetings.

Promotional Work and Local First Day

Capital District Local First maintains a web site and email list that connects members and supporters with events in the Capital District and throughout the country.  We are developing promotional materials to increase general awareness of the important contributions of locally owned, independent businesses to the region's economy and quality of life. Capital District Local First will organize one or two "local first" days per year, dedicated to increasing public awareness of the locally owned, independent business community.

Research

We plan to do research on the benefits of the local, independent business community and policies that would promote its interests. For a general introduction to available research until we have our own research set up, visit the resource portion of site of the national umbrella organization, BALLE. See also the bibliography here, based on our February, 2008, meeting.

Board Members

• Susan Taylor, Chair :: Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza/Market Block Books
  
• Karisa Centanni, Vice Chair :: Honest Weight Food Co-op
  
• Virginia Ruggiero, Secretary :: SEFCU
  
• David Hess, Treasurer :: Professor, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  
• Jeremy Snyder :: Science in a Nutshell Productions
• Karen Schlesinger :: Digital Artists Space
• Wayne Higdon :: Twenty-Fifth Hour Accounting
• Mary Alice Smith :: Java Jazz Cafe
• Alice Oldfather, Communications Consultant
• Scott Maltzman, Local Food Consultant
  

Mission

Our mission is to promote and improve the conditions of the locally owned, independent business community in the four counties of the New York State Capital District (Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady).  We interpret the phrase "locally owned, independent business community" broadly to include retail establishments, farms, service businesses, nonprofit organizations, cooperatives, credit unions, and banks.

Goals

1. Hold meetings and events that explore ways to improve businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to “triple bottom line” practices (profitability, sustainability, and social responsibility); foster connections among a diverse network of entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs, civic leaders, and individuals committed to our mission; and build connections with local living economies in other regions.

2. Promote the locally owned, independent business community to the local business community and the broader public in the Capital District to increase understanding of the value of a local living economy and the contributions of diverse, locally owned businesses to the region’s economy and welfare.

3. Develop research and information about how to direct resources toward local financial institutions, businesses, and nonprofit organizations committed to building a more inclusive and sustainable economy.